header-logo header-logo

24 September 2025
Issue: 8132 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Training & education
printer mail-detail

Bar Council encourages children to speak out for success

The Bar Council has launched a pioneering programme to improve children’s listening and speaking skills, boost their confidence and tackle career stereotypes at an early age

The Speak for Success programme aims to improve oracy skills among 7–11-year-olds, and has been developed through a collaboration of barristers, teachers and educational consultancy Hark. A pilot of 170 pupils produced impressive results, and it is now being rolled out across England and Wales. It can be delivered by teachers, with optional support from barrister volunteers.

The children are taught the importance of tone of voice, why questions are important, how to build on what other people say, how to respectfully disagree, summarise what others say and put their oracy skills into practice.

Bar Council chair Barbara Mills KC said: ‘Our programme will help children find their voice, express themselves clearly and build a foundation for lifelong success.’ 

Issue: 8132 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Training & education
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Kevin Joynes & Neil Gosling

Clarke Willmott—Kevin Joynes & Neil Gosling

Clarke Willmott bolsters housebuilder expertise in Birmingham

Carpmaels & Ransford—Kevin Cordina

Carpmaels & Ransford—Kevin Cordina

Firm adds former Simmons Simmons patent head to engineering and tech team

ACTAPS—Sally Goodger

ACTAPS—Sally Goodger

Freeths strengthens its voice in national disputes with ACTAPS committee appointment

NEWS
4PB chambers has announced the 2026 winner of its Alan Inglis Memorial Essay Prize, now in its third year
Murder could be split into first and second degrees, under Law Commission proposals for a historic overhaul of homicide offences
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Australian-style ban on social media for under-16s will be difficult to enforce, lawyers have warned
One in two women in law say their current working pattern is unsustainable for their long-term health, according to a report by the Next 100 Years project
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has highlighted a lack of safeguards where people use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help with legal problems
back-to-top-scroll