Interesting Practice

Key Facts

In 2015 Jane Cameron (owner and lead trainer with Positively Speaking) supported pupils from Stewarton Academy in their presentation skills preparation for the YES Ayrshire Company Programme Finals Night. The school team (Go Company) won Best Presentation Award. This lead to a series of meetings with East Ayrshire Educational Services and a recommendation from the Executive Director (Mr Graham Short) to Secondary Head Teachers within East Ayrshire.

Doon Academy subsequently requested two half-day effective communication skills workshops, each for 18 S1 pupils to support Scottish Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes. The workshops comprised a mixture of short information sessions, interactive discussions and several opportunities for pupils to speak in front of others, both in small and large groups, culminating in a prepared talk on a theme selected by each individual pupil.

Information sessions included confidence boosting tips, using examples to support a point, techniques to add impact to your talk and tips for the effective delivery and structure of a presentation.

An important element of the workshop was feedback which concentrates on qualities the pupils already have as speakers and areas in which they could improve. This is developed into peer-led feedback to understand the relevancy of giving/receiving constructive feedback. Throughout the day, various "energising" games were used to keep pupils active and engaged.

This workshop supports skills such as listening and talking, team work and peer/self-evaluation across the Curriculum and contributes towards progression to National Certificate and Highers. Subject areas with specific benefit are:

• Literacy & English - researching/communicating information, solo and groups talks
• Personal & Social Education
• Drama/Expressive Arts
• Enterprise, Business and ICT skills (including entrepreneurial activities)
• Skills for Life: communication skills within SQA Personal Development units

Outcomes and what pupils gained

Despite starting out with some understandable nerves, the pupils soon engaged with the workshop and quickly were able to offer supportive peer evaluation to each other. By the end of the workshop, all pupils had spoken at least twice in front of the group, including their final prepared talk on a subject of importance to them.

An evaluation form was completed by each pupil and the following scores were recorded overall:

• Confidence Levels at start of day: 2.20 (out of 10)
• Confidence Levels at end of day: 5.80 (out of 10)
• Rate training: 86% rated training as very good/good
• Recommend to other pupils: 94%

School Staff Feedback

School Pupil Feedback

Sustainability

Currently no funding source is available to offer these workshops to schools. Therefore the cost must be met by each individual school budget from Local Authority allocation.

The cost of an individual workshop can be reduced if 3+ workshops are commissioned by a Local Authority.

Costs

There are no additional costs or expenses incurred other than the overall fixed fee for each workshop. Schools are requested to provide paper/pencils for pupils.

Contact details

Jillian Murray
Depute Head Teacher
Doon Academy

Tel: 01292 550521

Jane Cameron
Positively Speaking: empowering young people to fulfil their potential and maximum their opportunities

Tel: 01292 678373
Mob: 07837 011690
Email: jane@positively-speaking.co.uk
Website: www.positively-speaking.co.uk

Other useful information

Jane Cameron again supported Ayrshire schools in the 2016 preparation for the YES Ayrshire Company Programme Finals Night. Two of the schools she worked with won awards for Best Presentation (1st Place Horizon Enterprises - Kilmarnock Academy, 2nd Place Belmont Academy).