Shakespeare Schools Festival

A programme promoting access to higher education through the arts

The Shakespeare Schools Festival at Magdalen College project is an access to higher education programme which uses drama to raise aspiration, and to build confidence and essential skills.

The project kicks off with a day of CPD for the participating teachers. They are equipped with a Teacher Handbook which identifies the three principle skills targeted through this project – Creativity, Teamwork and Staying Positive. The handbook gives the icons and definitions of the skills, explains how the project might support their development, and offers guidance and top tips to teachers on how to incorporate this language into their rehearsal process and beyond.

CSSF then visits the schools for a series of talks and workshops. Their facilitators are given training in identifying and naming the three essential skills on which our focus rests, with the addition of the Aiming High skill, so that they can continue to support the teachers to embed this.

The programme culminates with a residential at Magdalen College, during which the young people sleep in student accommodation, eat in the 16th century hall, and attend lectures on their play by a Shakespeare academic. Finally, they perform their show in the college’s auditorium to an audience made up of parents, carers, friends and supporters.