What is Teaching Shakespeare?
Teaching Shakespeare is a ground-breaking education partnership between the Royal Shakespeare Company and the University of Warwick.
It gives you access to a unique programme of specially-created online resources and courses that blend the RSC's playful, creative and rigorous approaches to teaching and learning with the world-leading scholarship and research practices of the University of Warwick.
Wherever you are in the world, we offer you the means to teach in active ways, transforming the connections your students make with Shakespeare's plays and language.
We know that young people get the most out of Shakespeare's plays when they approach them in the way that RSC actors do; on their feet, actively exploring the text and unlocking its meaning.
At the heart of Teaching Shakespeare is a specially-created online learning platform - available as a School Site Licence - that gives you access to a tried and tested rehearsal room approach to teaching Shakespeare. The platform provides unique insights into the artistic and teaching practices of the RSC, commentaries from leading Shakespeare scholars and practitioners from the University of Warwick, and with reflections from practising teachers.
Our online learning programme can be accessed either through a licence or as part of an accredited pathway. A licence can form the basis of an in-school development programme for teachers within a department, for be used by an individual for self-guided study. Those who follow enrol on the Postgraduate Award in Teaching Shakespeare (Online) will work through the online programme with the support of a personal tutor.
If you wish to go further can join us on our Stratford courses (intensive one-week courses in Stratford-upon-Avon) or embark on our flexible MA Pathway and tailor your study and progression to suit your needs.
Who is Teaching Shakespeare for?
Teaching Shakespeare is designed for serving teachers and theatre practitioners working with students aged 8 and above, from very experienced teachers to those beginning their professional careers.
Teaching Shakespeare will appeal in particular to English and Language Arts teachers, Drama and Theatre teachers working with 11-16 years olds, and teachers of 8-11 year olds who specialise in literacy development. Teaching Shakespeare will also provide an invaluable resource for teachers working with international students aged 16-18, who are meeting Shakespeare for the first time.
Benefits of Teaching Shakespeare Professional Development
Teaching Shakespeare offers you a combination of world-leading artistic, educational and academic expertise from the RSC and the University of Warwick with a shared passion for teaching Shakespeare with students.
We have worked together over many years to produce high quality professional development programmes for teachers. Our work is continually refined and developed with teachers and students, so our courses and resources combine approaches that really work in the classroom with a carefully structured programme of study.
From the evidence of our work to date we know that Teaching Shakespeare will enable you to:
- Teach Shakespeare more effectively so students make significant progress and improve their attainment
- Broaden and deepen your subject knowledge
- Enjoy your teaching more and build better relationships with your students
- Be inspired to share your passion for Shakespeare with students
- Attain valuable qualifications to support your career development
- Develop pedagogical skills that can be applied across other areas of teaching
Impact on students
Our research has established that active approaches not only improve student attitudes to Shakespeare but also have a significant impact on their attainment. We have evidence of statistically significant increases in attainment in literacy, communication and interpersonal skills, and our approach has also been validated in peer-reviewed articles in leading international Shakespeare, Education and Drama Education journals.
More about RSC research and case studies »
Teaching Shakespeare - School Site Licence »
Teaching Shakespeare - Stratford courses »
Teaching Shakespeare - MA pathway »