To book, please call the RSC Learning Ticket Hotline on 01789 331259, or email learning.boxoffice@rsc.org.uk

For more information about the courses themselves, please contact teachers.courses@rsc.org.uk 

The Foundation Certificate course: 17-18 October 2025 and 9 January 2026

The Intermediate Certificate course: 20-21 March 2026 and 3 July 2026

The Advanced Certificate course runs one every two years. If you are interested in joining the course in 2025/26 please contact us: teachers.courses@rsc.org.uk

Our Foundation Certificate courses are open to anyone who works in an education setting where Shakespeare may be encountered. Whilst the courses are designed with primary and secondary school teachers in mind, you do not need to be a qualified teacher to attend.

Acceptance onto our Intermediate Certificate course is dependent on one of the successful completion of any of the following:

• One of our Foundation Certificate courses.
• Three days of CPD with the RSC such as through our Associate Schools programme or our INSET days.

Acceptance onto our Advanced Certificate will primarily be based on successful attainment of our Intermediate Certificate. This course reflects considerable experience of RSC approaches and pedagogies, as well as the teaching of Shakespeare. Therefore, we will only consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis, such as if you have had extensive experience of other RSC courses.

To discuss eligibility, please email teachers.courses@rsc.org.uk with your enquiry. 

Yes. Each Certificate course has some spaces reserved specifically for Associate Schools teachers at a discounted rate. If you are working in an RSC Associate School then please include this information when making your booking. Please note that each course has a limited number of these discounted places.

Yes. RSC rehearsal room approaches depend on the shared experience and discussions that take place by being in a room together. Please talk to us if this is likely to be a problem for you.

If a one-day course would suit you better, please consider booking an INSET Day.

If you are unable to attend the third day of your Foundation or Intermediate Certificate course for any reason, such as a scheduling conflict or illness, then you will be unable to complete the course and receive your certificate. 

On occasion, you may be able to make up this third day in a future course but unfortunately this is not something that we can guarantee and to complete your course you may need to book again.

If you are booked onto our Advanced Certificate course and have a conflict with any of the days during the Stratford Phase, then we will work closely with you to accommodate as best as possible but you may be required to make up these days on the next Advanced course which would take place around two years in the future.

If due to a conflict or illness you are unable to attend a one-day Intermediate Certificate course that you have booked onto, you will be unable to transfer your ticket to another date. For further questions please refer to our ticketing terms and conditions.

If you teach Shakespeare, or plan to teach Shakespeare at some point in the future, then yes! These courses offer an inclusive approach to teaching using our rehearsal room techniques, appropriate for teachers of all age groups and subject specialisms.

Whilst the most common attendees on our Certificate courses are secondary English teachers, secondary drama teachers and primary teachers, they are designed to develop excellent teaching practice for any educator who works with Shakespeare's texts. Our practitioners also consider each cohort and tailor delivery for the needs of each specific group.

No prior knowledge of Shakespeare or his texts is required our Foundation Certificate courses. However, these courses are also open to teachers with strong experience of teaching Shakespeare looking to discover our rehearsal room approaches. 

Introduction and Foundation Certificate courses cover similar levels of content, and are both designed to introduce teachers to using RSC rehearsal room approaches in their classrooms. The main difference is that Introduction courses are one day only, and Foundation courses span three days over two school terms. Whatever your experience level, from experienced practitioners to Shakespeare novices, this is the course for you if you are new to working with us and our pedagogies.

Our Intermediate Certificate course is geared for teachers with experience of our approaches, and delves deeper into the forms and structures of Shakespeare's language as well as the challenges of teaching his plays in contemporary classrooms. This is the course for you if you have completed at least three Introduction Certificates, one Foundation Certificate or have experience of our approaches elsewhere such as through our Associate Schools Programme.

Our Advanced Certificate is currently the highest level of course we offer, and includes a research phase for participants to undertake projects investigating the impact of RSC rehearsal room approaches in their school environment. It is only open to those who have completed an Intermediate Certificate course. 

Foundation/Intermediate

Our Foundation and Intermediate Certificate courses work in a sandwich structure, with a gap between days 2 and 3 of the course to allow for a short reflective task to be undertaken in your teaching environments. For more information please visit the pages for our Foundation Certificate or our Intermediate Certificate.

Please note that these tasks are not designed to become arduous or contribute to teachers' already large workloads, and should fit around your current teaching practice.

Advanced

The Advanced Certificate includes a Research Phase where you would undertake a piece of action research in your schools investigating the effects of teaching Shakespeare using RSC pedagogies. This will include a written report to be submitted at the end of this phase. For more information please visit the page for our Advanced Certificate.

If you have any concerns or questions about the written output of these courses, please get in touch.

We believe that being in Shakespeare’s home town of Stratford-upon-Avon has a positive impact on teachers' experience of our continuing professional development. Being immersed in the world of the RSC enhances teachers' experience through being able to engage with our on stage work during the course.

If you would be interested in CPD more local to you, please visit our INSET Days page.

• Undertake immersive training with an internationally-renowned theatre company, in the heart of Shakespeare’s home town

• Work alongside at least two RSC practitioners, who are experts in their field and have years of experience in the effective teaching of Shakespeare.

• Focus on the day-to-day practicalities of teaching Shakespeare in the classroom.

• Acquire knowledge, confidence and skills in using RSC rehearsal room approaches.

• Progress and deepen knowledge according to own personal goals.

• Explore the underpinning pedagogy and evidence base supporting the practice.

• Share best practice, network and build relationships with other teachers.

• Experience live theatre – all courses include a ticket to see a play in our repertoire.

• Implement learned practice in school and reflect on its effectiveness.

All courses also include a full resource pack of activities to use in the classroom. Most activities covered are fully transferable, both to different plays and to different areas of the curriculum.

Please see below for the current costs for the full three days of training, including a ticket to see a production in the repertoire. These prices are correct for courses that start before April 2025.

Foundation/Intermediate

• £450.00 UK state school teachers
• £650.00 UK independent school teachers
• £750.00 International teachers
• £400.00 Freelance teachers*
• £250.00 ECTs (Early Career Teachers)*

 Advanced

* Please note that there are a limited number of reduced cost bursaries available for each course. To confirm eligibility for these rates, please contact: teachers.courses@rsc.org.uk 

Please note that our prices are subject to change, and so book now to lock in current prices for future courses.

There are lots of ways you and your students can get involved with the RSC, including through our INSET days, workshops for students, resources for teachers, or education events throughout the year.

Don't see something that's right for you? Contact us with your specific CPD needs and we can discuss bespoke arrangements.

There are multiple benefits for both young people and their teachers when engaging with our rehearsal room approaches to encounter Shakespeare. Read more about our research into our practices and pedagogy here.