July 03, 2023
Students find their voice for Lionheart Speaks
Something incredibly innovative and exciting has been brewing throughout our family of schools this term and, on Monday 26th June, it finally came to fruition; the Lionheart Speaks event.Building on research conducted by the Centre of Education in 2021, the aim of this initiative was to promote the importance of oracy skills, which remain vitally important in the modern world, despite technological innovation altering the ways in which many of us communicate.
Additionally, the Lionheart global issues curriculum – another Trust-wide initiative – has continued to stress the importance of holistic development, educating students about issues outside of the classroom; thus making them well-rounded and knowledgeable individuals. This year, students have explored topics such as climate change, equality and forced movement of people.
It was from combining these two factors that Lionheart Speaks was born. An initiative that equipped our learners with the skills to coherently communicate issues that are of personal importance to them.
This term, our learners – ranging from primary school pupils to sixth form students – took part in day-long workshops hosted by Talk the Talk, an oracy charity that provided guidance on how to sculpt the students’ raw ideas into an effective speech.
Students then rehearsed their speeches before performing them to a collection of school staff; ranging from leadership members to governors. The panel then had the unenviable task of selecting their school’s representatives to perform at the Lionheart Speaks event, in front of a live audience at the Y Theatre in Leicester.
Showing tremendous bravery, the students stunned the crowd with their emotive and powerful speeches, which focused on a broad range of timely issues; from men’s mental health, to body image, to homelessness and to black history, the subjects were relevant and eloquently delivered.
A massive congratulations to all the students who took part in the workshops and those who were lucky enough to perform at the event. We look forward to next year with great anticipation!
Below, you can watch a short video about Lionheart Speaks and browse some photos from the evening.
