Alison Coates

Alison Coates is a specialist speech and communication teacher, curriculum designer, and author with over 25 years of experience in oracy and debate. Her career has spanned from classrooms and boardrooms to international stages across Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean. A former senior assessor and trainer for the English Speaking Board (ESB), Alison has also authored accredited qualifications, and contributed to the Oracy All-Party Parliamentary Group’s national report. She continues to adjudicate prestigious national and international speaking competitions such as The International Oratory Festival.

Through her private practice, Speaking Solutions, she empowers learners of all ages - from students tackling their first exams to professionals refined their public presence. Her latest publication series, "Stop Guessing, Start Grading," serves as the definitive companion to LAMDA’s Speaking in Public syllabus. These guides provide teachers and students with a precise, "sensory" rubric that translates vague assessment criteria into observable, teachable milestones.

In addition to her work in communication, Alison is the co-founder of the charity AIMS (Auto Immune & Multiple Sclerosis). Her first book, The Neutropenic Cookbook, was born from personal experience after her husband, James, underwent a bone marrow transplant for MS in 2016. The book remains a vital resource for families navigating low-bacterial diets during recovery.

A mother of two, Alison remains a passionate advocate for the power of the spoken word. When she isn’t decoding assessment criteria or coaching the next generation of speakers, she can be found traveling, reading, or experimenting in the kitchen.

New Releases:

The "Stop Guessing, Start Grading" Series

The Complete Guide: A comprehensive manual covering Grades 1–8.

Level 1 (Grades 1–3): Foundations in structure and audibility.

Level 2 (Grades 4–5): Focus on audience calibration and research integration.

Level 3 (Grades 6–8): Advanced rhetoric and the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals.