FEATURE: CULTURAL EDUCATION
people of different nationalities, ages and abilities together.”
Putting inclusivity at the heart of our work Our Shakespeare Schools Festival is an inclusive, non-competitive process and any school can take part. Every year, children from different backgrounds come together to perform on the same stage. As a result of this collaborative approach, students’ horizons are broadened, a love of learning is fostered, and confidence soars. Our thorough and rigorous process uses the power of Shakespeare to improve the life chances of thousands of the most disadvantaged young people in the UK. 75% of participating students say that they
Festival will return to theatres in 2022, with audiences set to witness the remarkable achievements of the children and young people involved. We’ll be working on the Festival in partnership
with over 300 schools, engaging diverse groups including those with special educational needs and from minority ethnic backgrounds, and are passionate about reaching those living in areas of deprivation. To find out more and to join us for 2022, visit
shakespeareschools.org/the- festival/about-the-festival.
Off-Grid Shakespeare We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to access the arts and vital life skills, including confidence, teamwork, and communication development that come with it. We want to bring professional artists and our drama practices into schools that aren’t able, because of size or location, to take part in our annual Festival. Throughout 2021 and 2022, our new project
“Off Grid”, supported by the Esmee Fairburn Foundation, will support small rural primary schools, who lack easy access to theatres, to stage fun and creative Shakespeare productions in their community and embed Drama into the curriculum. Recognising and celebrating the creativity of children and young people in rural schools and giving them the same opportunities to access the arts as their peers in other parts of the country is key. The Off-Grid project includes CPD sessions with
staff; introducing the project, our methodology and a toolkit for exercises that can be used in the classroom. We conduct regular workshops exploring a Shakespeare story with every pupil in the school, led by our professional team. This knowledge will then transition into an end of term, interactive, bold, and fun performance, facilitated by our team in the local community. We have so far worked with schools in
Somerset and Cumbria, and are currently looking for schools in the North Yorkshire Moors and Yorkshire Dales to join us. Find out more at
shakespeareschools.org/news/coram-ssf-goes-off- grid.
The impact of our work We know that the impact of our work is real.
December 2021
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Through our programmes, young people gain skills for life and see the whole world as their stage. 98% of teachers agreed that their students’ confidence increased as a result and 83% said their students were more enthusiastic about school and learning.* Our carefully tailored programmes, curriculum
resources and standalone workshops improve teamwork and educational attainment. 98% of teachers say their students work better together as a team through involvement in our projects, and 85% report improvements in academic attainment. In addition, 95% of teachers said their students are more able to empathise with each other.* We know that confidence, collaboration and
articulacy are essential in life. As Yusuf, aged 10, puts it: “In the future it helps you with a job, if you didn’t do this you may not have the guts.” CSSF also promotes gender equality. 70% of
girls say sexism affects most areas of their lives and makes them feel disempowered.** By playing lead roles in Shakespeare, girls learn to step up and speak out. “Doing this raised my confidence beyond the limit because I feel like I can do anything” says Blessing, CSSF student from Greenfields Primary School. We know that access to the arts can inspire
social change and transform cultural horizons. Georgie, CSSF student from Mill Hill County High School, describes her experience with CSSF as inspiring her to “appreciate the fact that something like Shakespearean language can bring
enjoy going to the theatre, museums or galleries, whilst only 40% say they often visit them.*** The Festival provides students with access to the arts by bringing them into a professional theatre. For many, this is their first experience of a cultural, heritage or theatre environment. A priority area for us is young people with
special educational needs. We have been building our expertise with special schools and have become skilled at delivering and enabling inclusive performances. Teachers and parents report students make enormous and often unexpected developmental strides as a result of taking part in our process; 100% of special school teachers report that their students exceed expectations. Of the young people, 86% said they would like additional chances to work alongside their mainstream peers and 77% reported they felt people now saw them differently.*** As a teacher from Queen Elizabeth II Special
School says: "The new skills they have learnt and the confidence they have gained will last for much longer than one night – CSSF has helped our young people look to the future." By delivering these results in every type of
school, we promote social inclusion and improve life chances. We know that the unique power of Shakespeare really can transform lives.
ushakespeareschools.org
*CSSF Impact Report 20/21:
shakespeareschools.org/impact/impact-report **Girlguiding Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2016 ***
https://workforgood.co.uk/charities/shakespeare- schools-foundation/
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