What plans it has to promote wider access to speech and debate activities in primary and secondary schools, in the context of A Curriculum …

A Curriculum for Excellence identifies literacy skills as a key theme across the curriculum with all teachers having a role in promoting literacy development.>
The draft experiences and outcomes for English and literacy, released for engagement on 21 February, explore the role of learning about language under three main lines of development: listening and talking, reading and writing. The draft outcomes offer opportunities for schools to develop literacy skills through debate, presentation and speech.
National Qualifications in English offer opportunities for pupils to develop skills in speech and debate. Pupils participate in group discussions and individual talk and there is the option of assessable spoken work at most levels. There are also several free-standing national units which schools may offer, including units specifically on individual presentation and debating.