Shakespeare
The entire classroom’s a stage, as RSC helps bring Shakespeare to life at Park.
Shakespeare has traditionally been taught to pupils using text books and has been tested through written exams for many years. The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Globe Theatre wants to turn this tradition around. The RSC’s director of education, Jacqui O’Hanlon has promoted the idea of teaching Shakespeare’s plays through acting. The RSC have devised exercises to help children mirror the methods, which professional actors use during rehearsals. They say that when it comes to the written exams, the oral way of teaching will have helped students to develop a better understanding of the texts, which will then help them get a better grade.
The Schools’ Minister, Diana Johnson, explained that Shakespeare should be a central part of every young person's education. She said, "Developing a love of Shakespeare at a young age often leads to a lifelong passion for literature and theatre and helps to improve a child's reading and writing."
This initiative is paying a central role at Park High. Last week Mrs. Day-Haynes, the Head of English, learnt that Park High had won the bid to become a Royal Shakespeare Company school.
Ms Halpin an English and Drama teacher, who will be one of the teachers involved in the project, told us, “I think it’s really important that we’ve won the bid, as at Park High we recognise that Shakespeare should be performed and that you should be up on your feet, enjoying the language.”
English teachers at Park High also believe that pupils should be taught Shakespeare through interactive activities and performing. The idea that Shakespeare’s work should be performed, as Shakespeare always intended “is key to our teaching philosophy.” Ms Hubbard, Deputy Head of English, told us.
Ms Halpin went on to explain, “Shakespeare never thought that you students would be sitting behind desks reading his work in books. No that is not what he wanted; he wanted to see us up and performing it in the way it was intended.”
Park High has won the bid to be a hub school for this new initiative. This means that we will be holding many events to celebrate and explore the work of Shakespeare, including a festival to launch the project in our area.
Ms Lyall English the English teacher, who will also be leading the project said, “I think that it will be a real opportunity for us to get to know our partnership schools. Whilst we’re the hub school we will be organising a festival, which means that students from other schools will be able to come and work together, this will create a great community spirit, which I feel is very important.”
The RSC project looks to be a fantastic scheme, which will enable English and Drama departments to come together to deliver the work by
By Daniel and Khushal, Year 9