11th June 2012 11:56
By Blue Tutors
Calls for Public Speaking tuition in state schools
The Shadow Education Secretary, Stephen Twigg, has called for more emphasis to be placed on educating young state school pupils in the art of public speaking and interview technique.
Speaking at an academy school in west London, Mr Twigg said: "If we are to break down the barriers that stop some bright young people succeeding, then being articulate and confident is critical.
"Spoken skills have not had enough of a focus within state schools but it is clear this needs to change. We know that many private schools focus on debating and on interview coaching, helping their students get another leg up toward the best universities and jobs.
"Labour wants all pupils to have the same opportunities to develop their verbal communication and presentation skills. This is about modernising our schools system to improve life chances."
It’s one opinion on which he appears to agree with Education Secretary, Michael Gove, who recently said graduates who had been to private schools still dominated positions of wealth and power in what he said was the UK's "profoundly unequal" society.
Some state schools do run such classes, but Mr Twigg says they should form part of the national curriculum, which is currently under review with changes being drawn up and due to be introduced in autumn 2014.