We are celebrating a remarkable achievement as three Year 8 students have been selected to join the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Youth Advisory Board. 

The highly competitive national programme saw students from across the country submit either a written, voice or video application outlining their passion for Shakespeare and the arts and their ideas for shaping the future of arts education. Following a rigorous selection process, shortlisted candidates were invited to attend interviews with representatives from the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

Only five places were available nationwide – and in an extraordinary accomplishment, three of those places have been awarded to Dowdales students. The RSC have told us that Dowdales student’s scores were the highest across the board. 

The Youth Advisory Board gives young people the opportunity to work closely with the RSC, offering their perspectives on productions, outreach and engagement strategies. Members play an influential role in helping the organisation connect meaningfully with young audiences across the UK. 

This success is further strengthened by Dowdales School’s longstanding partnership with the RSC. As an RSC Associate School, Dowdales has worked closely with the Company for nearly 20 years, embedding Shakespeare and performance-based approaches into teaching and learning. Students and staff have benefitted from workshops, collaborative projects and access to high-quality theatre-making experiences, helping to nurture confidence, creativity and critical thinking skills. 

Headteacher Ms Emma Aubrey praised the students’ success: 

“We are incredibly proud of you all. To have three of our Year 8 students selected for such a prestigious national programme is a tremendous achievement. The Royal Shakespeare Company are awed by your knowledge, passion for the arts and by your creativity, confidence and commitment. You will represent our school community brilliantly. Our close partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company as a Lead Associate School for nearly 20 years has provided invaluable opportunities for our students, and this success reflects the strength of that relationship. We look forward to seeing the impact you will make as part of the Youth Advisory Board.”