Inspiration can come from many places, but few things inspire me more than meeting young people with talent and a love for what they do – it gives me real hope for the future. I recently had the pleasure and privilege to judge a speech contest at Chantry Academy in Ipswich. The contest was made up of Year 8 and 9 pupils (12-14 year olds) and took place on the last day of term. The subjects ranged from gender equality in sport, to the stigma of men’s mental health, plus there was also a memorable speech on cheese, a contribution that stood out for its cleverness, as well as its humour!
The winner on this occasion spoke about their experience of being a young carer for her mum and little brother. It was moving to listen to, and highlighted the huge responsibility that has been placed on the shoulders on someone so young. There are 166,000 registered young carers in the UK, and likely thousands more go under the radar. ‘The absence from our own childhood we have as we have a role to take care of the people who should primarily take care of us’ is a sentence that will stay with me for a long time. Every single pupil spoke eloquently, engagingly, and powerfully, however. They all had something important to say and they said it with passion and conviction. Public speaking is a difficult thing to do at the best of times. Even those of us who do it regularly can get nervous, make mistakes, or have an ‘off day’. So what made this morning remarkable was that many students spoke with real courage, sharing incredibly personal stories in front of a packed audience. I thought it was so encouraging that their peers were very supportive – the atmosphere created at the school is obviously a very positive one.
The ability to communicate effectively is crucially important, at all stages of life. Speaking up when it matters, expressing your views, asking for help, persuading others, collaborating successfully – these are not just qualities needed in school, but in the workplace too. Yet, despite this, speaking skills are not always taught in school and it provides a significant barrier to opportunity for many young people as they move into adulthood. The education gap starts growing early on too, and children with poor language at five-years-old are six times less likely to reach the expected standard in English when they are 11 than those with good language at the same age.
That is why the Labour Party has committed to a curriculum that ensures all young people leave school ready for work and ready for life, building the knowledge, skills and attributes young people need to thrive. As well as language and communication, it will also embed digital and life skills within their learning. I want to see more students benefit from learning invaluable communication skills like those being taught at Chantry Academy, and a Labour Government would deliver that. Children and young people often carry extraordinary burdens, and many have had challenging starts in life. The opportunities given to some are not afforded to all, and children’s services and education have repeatedly suffered from Conservative cuts. There is so much talent to unlock, but until education is seen as an investment, rather than a cost, too many children and young people will struggle to fulfil their potential. As Chantry Academy showcased our next generation of politicians, campaigners, and leaders, it is clear we have a very bright future ahead of us if we give them the tools to succeed.