Education

UK curriculum overhaul aims to make debating a standard skill for all students by 2028

Sunday, 9 November 2025 5:05AM UTC

The UK government plans to embed classroom debating across most subjects in a bid to enhance communication skills among all pupils, addressing disparities between state and private schools and preparing students for a digitalised and AI-driven future.

The UK government is set to enhance the national curriculum by making classroom debating a widespread feature across most subjects, moving it beyond the exclusive domain of private schools. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has emphasised the importance of developing oracy skills, speaking and listening abilities, as essential for students' future success, both academically and professionally. This initiative comes amid recognition that private schools, which can diverge from the national curriculum, have traditionally provided more opportunities for pupils to engage in debates, group discussions, and regular presentations, giving them an edge in communication skills.

Currently, the national curriculum for students aged 11 to 14 includes minimal spoken language requirements, and some subjects, such as geography and history, lack any oral skill development components. The Department for Education’s revised curriculum aims to change this by embedding specific oral activities across a broad range of subjects. For instance, history pupils might evaluate different historical sources through discussion, geography students could present case studies on natural disasters, and maths learners may debate problem-solving approaches in groups. Even English classes will see pupils debating varied interpretations of texts, reflecting a comprehensive commitment to oracy.

Phillipson stated that in an era shaped by technological advances and artificial intelligence, communication, argument construction, and collaboration are critical skills that boost life chances. She intends to make classroom debating “the common entitlement of a generation” rather than a privilege for those attending private schools. This reform seeks to stretch high-achieving pupils and engage those at risk of disengagement, helping every child to find their voice and enter life and work with greater confidence.

Research underscores the gap in opportunities, as highlighted by a Sutton Trust survey of nearly 8,000 teachers in 2024 showing that 53% of private schools host debating clubs versus only 18% of state schools. This disparity has fuelled calls for reform to ensure all young people develop strong communication skills.

In response to these findings, the government will publish a new oracy framework designed to promote effective speaking and listening skills. This initiative follows a government-commissioned curriculum and assessment review, which noted that while many schools design enrichment activities to boost oracy, these are not widespread or systematic enough. The review underscored that oracy skills are linked to deeper understanding, critical thinking, and improving student engagement.

Employers have also raised concerns, reporting deficiencies in interpersonal skills among young workers, particularly a reluctance to engage in verbal communication, favouring texting or emailing instead. Leading firms like Forvis Mazars have begun training staff in social skills, including simulated client meetings and phone-calling techniques, reflecting a broader need for workforce communication development.

Despite these reforms, oral testing is not expected to become compulsory beyond its current inclusion in modern languages, English language, and drama examinations. Geoff Barton, chairman of the Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England, welcomed this approach, highlighting the distinction between oracy and public speaking. He emphasised oracy as the ability to deploy a range of speaking and listening skills in varied contexts, critical in an age of automation and AI, allowing humans to communicate authentically and flexibly.

The new oracy framework for secondary schools will roll out from September 2028 and forms part of wider curriculum updates including a standard triple science GCSE, increased focus on religious education, media literacy, financial literacy, artificial intelligence, and climate change. A complementary oracy framework for primary schools is also in development.

Government sources pointed to a problematic combination of young people disengaging from education, immersing themselves excessively in digital worlds, and relying on AI tools that can generate written content on their behalf. The planned reforms aim to counter this by making speaking and listening fundamental, not optional, elements of the school experience. Citizenship lessons at the primary level will also include teaching children how to navigate misinformation and fake news, helping them develop critical oral and analytical skills.

Supporting the emphasis on oral skills, research from the Education Endowment Foundation revealed that interventions encouraging group speaking and listening activities can accelerate children's reading comprehension by up to six months. The foundation stressed the value of reading aloud and book discussions in primary education.

Experts highlight the benefits of this approach across disciplines. Jacqui O'Hanlon, deputy executive director at the Royal Shakespeare Company, noted the connection between self-expression, well-being, and oracy, stressing that equipping young people to articulate ideas clearly and engage respectfully in debate is more important than ever. Likewise, David Thomas, chief executive of Axiom Maths, argued that oral skills are crucial even in mathematics, where convincing others of a solution’s validity, proof, is fundamental to the discipline.

Overall, the government’s push to integrate debating and oracy into the curriculum represents a significant step towards redressing skills imbalances and equipping the next generation with the communication abilities vital for life, work, and civic engagement in a rapidly evolving world.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] The Times - Paragraphs 1–13, 15–18
^[2] The Times (summary) - Paragraph 1
^[3] gov.uk (oracy framework announcement) - Paragraphs 2, 4, 6
^[4] Sutton Trust - Paragraph 5
^[5] gov.uk (national curriculum details) - Paragraph 3
^[6] gov.uk (oracy framework announcement) - Paragraphs 4, 6
^[7] gov.uk (oracy framework announcement) - Paragraphs 4, 6

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/debating-put-on-state-curriculum-to-catch-up-with-private-schools-rrpt29dvw - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/debating-put-on-state-curriculum-to-catch-up-with-private-schools-rrpt29dvw - The article discusses the UK government's plan to integrate classroom debating into the national curriculum to enhance oracy skills among students. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson aims to make debating a common practice across all subjects, moving beyond its traditional association with private schools. The initiative responds to concerns about the lack of oral communication skills in state schools and seeks to provide equal opportunities for all students to develop these essential abilities.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-secretary-announces-new-oracy-framework-to-boost-speaking-and-listening-skills - Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced a new oracy framework aimed at improving speaking and listening skills among students. The framework is part of a broader curriculum reform to ensure that all pupils, regardless of background, have the opportunity to develop strong communication abilities. This initiative addresses concerns about the disparity in oracy skills between state and private school students and aims to equip young people with the skills necessary for success in the modern world.
https://www.suttontrust.com/research-paper/debating-clubs-in-schools/ - A Sutton Trust survey revealed that 53% of private schools have a debating club or similar activity, compared to only 18% of state schools. This disparity highlights the unequal access to opportunities for students to develop oracy skills, prompting calls for curriculum reforms to make debating a standard practice in all schools.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-secondary-curriculum - The National Curriculum in England outlines the subjects and content taught in schools. The curriculum includes minimal spoken language requirements for students aged 11 to 14, with some subjects lacking oral components entirely. The government's proposed reforms aim to address this gap by incorporating more specific oral skills development across various subjects.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-secretary-announces-new-oracy-framework-to-boost-speaking-and-listening-skills - Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced a new oracy framework aimed at improving speaking and listening skills among students. The framework is part of a broader curriculum reform to ensure that all pupils, regardless of background, have the opportunity to develop strong communication abilities. This initiative addresses concerns about the disparity in oracy skills between state and private school students and aims to equip young people with the skills necessary for success in the modern world.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-secretary-announces-new-oracy-framework-to-boost-speaking-and-listening-skills - Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced a new oracy framework aimed at improving speaking and listening skills among students. The framework is part of a broader curriculum reform to ensure that all pupils, regardless of background, have the opportunity to develop strong communication abilities. This initiative addresses concerns about the disparity in oracy skills between state and private school students and aims to equip young people with the skills necessary for success in the modern world.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is recent, with the article published on 9 November 2025. The UK government announced plans to integrate debating into the national curriculum on 4 November 2025. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-curriculum-to-give-young-people-the-skills-for-life-and-work?utm_source=openai)) This suggests the article is based on a recent press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the article may have been republished across various platforms, including low-quality sites or clickbait networks, which could affect its originality. Additionally, the article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. A search reveals that similar statements have been made by her in previous speeches, such as at the Confederation of School Trusts Conference on 7 November 2024. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/bridget-phillipsons-speech-to-the-confederation-of-school-trusts?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that the quotes may have been reused, which could affect the originality of the content.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from The Times, a reputable UK newspaper. The article is based on a recent press release from the UK government, which typically warrants a high reliability score. However, the article may have been republished across various platforms, including low-quality sites or clickbait networks, which could affect its reliability.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about the UK government's plans to integrate debating into the national curriculum are plausible and align with recent government announcements. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher plausibility score but should still be flagged. Additionally, the article may have been republished across various platforms, including low-quality sites or clickbait networks, which could affect its credibility.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative is based on a recent press release from the UK government, suggesting a high freshness score. However, the article may have been republished across various platforms, including low-quality sites or clickbait networks, which could affect its originality and reliability. Additionally, the inclusion of updated data alongside recycled older material may impact the overall credibility.

education reform
oracy skills
debating in schools