As part of our longstanding partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Dowdales School continues to support teachers in developing creative and inspiring approaches to teaching Shakespeare.
We regularly host Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions for teachers from Dowdales and our RSC Associate Schools. Led by a member of the RSC, these practical workshops provide teachers with new techniques, ideas and approaches to bring Shakespeare’s plays to life in the classroom.
The sessions offer a valuable opportunity for teachers to work collaboratively, share experiences and explore ways to engage students with Shakespeare’s language, characters and stories. By developing confidence and creativity in the classroom, teachers can help students discover the enjoyment and relevance of Shakespeare’s work.
The impact of this professional development is reflected in feedback shared by the RSC:
“1,029 teachers took part in professional training led by us, the RSC and other theatre partners. 100% of the teachers surveyed said that after the training they felt more confident, better equipped and more able to plan and teach transformative Shakespeare lessons.”
This week, the RSC is celebrating 20 years of partnerships with theatres, schools and communities across England through its Building Partnerships celebration. This milestone highlights the importance of collaboration in making theatre and Shakespeare accessible, inspiring and meaningful for young people and communities.
At Dowdales, we are incredibly proud of our relationship with the RSC. Through teacher training, student workshops, performances and opportunities to work with theatre professionals, our partnership continues to enrich the experiences of our students and staff.
We look forward to continuing this work and building on the opportunities our RSC partnership brings to Team Dowdales and our wider school community.
The RSC CPD has completely transformed my teaching of Shakespeare. Treating the characters in Shakespeare’s plays as real people in real situations and allowing the young people in our classes to own the work ensures that his plays remain relevant today. Giving young people the chance to have a voice in the classroom and rehearsal room develops creativity, empathy and confidence which are all life long skills.
I found that the CPD has really helped me use a range of RSC strategies in my teaching of Macbeth. I feel confident in playing with the text to help my students learn.
The RSC’s development has mainly helped me find ways to link my dance training with physical theatre, using movement, gesture, and physical expression to create meaningful interpretations of Shakespeare’s words. I can now approach his work creatively, making the language more accessible and engaging for students while helping them connect with the emotions and characters in a deeper, more physical way.
The RSC CPD training was a fantastic opportunity to develop my confidence and explore new, creative ways of bringing Shakespeare to life. It gave me practical ideas and fresh inspiration that I can take forward to help make Shakespeare more accessible, engaging and enjoyable for young people.
