FINDING YOUR VOICE

A practical, actor-led workshop that builds confidence, communication and public speaking skills for secondary school students

Finding Your Voice is a practical, actor-led workshop that helps students build confidence in speaking, presenting and expressing themselves clearly.

Fast-paced, supportive and highly engaging, the session gives students techniques they can apply straight away. Through a mix of ensemble exercises, speaking tasks and performance-based activities, students learn how to use breath, body and voice to communicate with greater clarity, confidence and impact.

Whether they are contributing in class, presenting to others, preparing for interview or managing performance anxiety, students leave with a stronger sense of their own voice and a toolkit they can keep using beyond the workshop.

WHo it’s FOR

Designed for secondary students, this workshop can be tailored for different year groups, abilities and school contexts.

It works particularly well for:

oracy and speaking confidence
PSHE and personal development
English and Drama enrichment
transition points (e.g. Year 6–7, KS3–KS4)
student leadership
presentation skills and public speaking
interview preparation
confidence and wellbeing initiatives

WHAT STUDENTS TAKE AWAY

Students leave with greater confidence and a toolkit of practical techniques they can begin to apply immediately.

During the workshop, students:

practise speaking clearly and audibly using breath, articulation and vocal control
explore how body language and physical presence affect communication, including posture and eye contact
experiment with structuring short spoken responses so ideas are clearer and more organised
develop awareness of audience and purpose, and how this shapes language and delivery
try out practical strategies for managing nerves before and during speaking tasks
have supported opportunities to respond to prompts and questions, building confidence thinking on their feet
identify personal speaking habits and areas they can begin to improve
apply techniques in short speaking or presentation tasks, with guidance and feedback
leave with simple, repeatable exercises they can use to prepare for future speaking situations

WHAT WE COVER

The content is adapted to suit the age and needs of the group, but typically includes:

Students take part in dynamic group exercises that create a supportive working environment. These activities reduce inhibitions, build trust and encourage collaboration, listening and creative risk-taking.
Students explore how posture, gesture, eye contact and movement affect communication — and how physical choices shape both confidence and first impressions.
Students learn practical techniques for breath control, projection and articulation, as well as strategies for using breath to steady nerves and support clear communication.
Students develop an understanding of how to structure ideas, adapt language for different audiences and communicate with clarity, purpose and impact.
Students put everything into practice through structured speaking challenges, building confidence through doing and reflecting on what works.

HOW IT WORKS

This workshop is delivered in half-day or full-day formats:

Half-day workshop
• Up to 3 hours (can be adapted to fit your timetable)
• Delivered to one or multiple groups
• Can run sequentially or in parallel

Full-day workshop
• Up to 6 hours (flexible to suit the school day)
• Delivered to one or multiple groups
• Can run sequentially or in parallel

Whole year / multi-group delivery
• Suitable for larger cohorts (e.g. 60–90 students)
• Multiple facilitators can be used to work with groups simultaneously where needed

WHY IT WORKS

Embodied learning — students develop confidence through using voice and body, not just thinking about it
Immediate application — techniques are practised and applied within the session, not left as theory
Performance-led approach — strategies drawn from actor training build presence, clarity and vocal control
Regular opportunities to speak — all students are actively involved, building confidence through repetition
Supportive, inclusive environment — students are encouraged to take risks without fear of getting it wrong

WORKSHOP FORMATS

Led by professional facilitators with backgrounds in performance and education
Fully interactive and inclusive — all students are actively involved
Carefully structured to balance energy, challenge and support
Adaptable for different year groups, abilities and school contexts
Designed to create immediate impact as well as lasting skill development

“Engaging, motivating and highly effective. You could see and feel the level of student engagement in the room”
Deputy Head, Beaconsfield High School for Girls

LOOKING FOR A

primary version?

We also offer a Finding Your Voice workshop for primary schools, adapted for younger students and focused on building confidence, participation and early communication skills.

EXPLORE PRIMARY WORKSHOPS