"I suddenly realised that many of these previously excluded students have a much better understanding of what the lesson is about just by making simple adjustments to the way I talk."

Teacher, St Mary Magdalene Academy

Secondary Talk

Principal Tony Morisson introduces Secondary Talk at Park Hall Academy. Click here for more videos from Park Hall Academy showing Secondary Talk in action.

Secondary teachers tell us that two of the biggest problems facing secondary schools are raising achievement levels and tackling poor behaviour. Some young people are entering secondary schools without the kind of language and communication skills they need for academic and life success.

That’s why we’ve created Secondary Talk, an evidence-based practical programme to help schools support their young people to develop essential communication skills. It has been shown to improve both behaviour and engagement in learning.

Bursaries available for schools who apply to be part of the second wave of roll out from January 2012!

Limited funding and places available so you need to get in touch as soon as possible. Don’t worry if you can’t commit immediately, we may be able to hold you a place during your review process.

Email secondarytalk@ican.org.uk and please provide your contact name, position, school name, address, contact phone number and best time to reach you by phone.

How Secondary Talk works

Unlike top-down school improvement initiatives, this programme supports schools to develop approaches responding to their own priorities. So whether a school has identified issues with behaviour, engagement in learning, or attainment amongst its vulnerable groups, Secondary Talk can provide flexible, practical solutions.

Secondary Talk is delivered by experienced specialist I CAN consultants and it includes a combination of practical resources and short training modules together with tailored consultancy. Together these help change and embed communication supportive practice in a focused, step by step way.

Next Steps

To find out how Secondary Talk could work in your school, contact I CAN today 0845 225 4073.
Email secondarytalk@ican.org.uk and please provide your contact name, position, school name, address, contact phone number and best time to reach you by phone.
Register for our free Secondary Talk e-newsletter

In the pipeline – other flexible packages for you coming in 2012

We’re currently developing two further Secondary Talk packages.

Secondary Talk ‘Champion Package’: Developing the skills of a lead school to share innovation and good practice to a small cluster of schools under licence.

Secondary Talk ‘Local Specialist Package’: a short I CAN training course will enable specialist support staff such as Speech and Language Therapists or Advisory Teachers to deliver Secondary Talk under licence to a limited number of schools.

To register your interest e mail secondarytalk@ican.org.uk

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