Royal Shakespeare Company calls for Government action on Ebacc plans
On the day that the House of Commons debates the Ebacc, and figures show a continued decline in take up of arts subjects at GCSE, new research* from the RSC has revealed that attainment and aspirations amongst low achieving students, particularly boys, can be raised through Shakespeare.
The research, released on the eve of the RSC’s first symposium which examines the role of culture in education, reveals a link between the RSC’s approaches (based on techniques used in RSC rehearsal rooms) and improved vocabulary, literacy levels, aspirations and attainment. Schools who are part of the RSC’s long-term education partnership programme, the Learning and Performance Network (LPN), were questioned as part of an evaluation of the programme’s impact. The findings clearly show that after working with the RSC:
- 100% of schools saw their students wanting to learn and do more
- 100% of those schools saw an increase in student confidence in the classroom
- 96% said that it had helped them to connect with previously hard to reach students
Teachers also reported sharp increases in writing levels - particularly amongst low achieving students and learners from low income families – alongside increased attainment in subjects across the curriculum, not just in English and drama.
As concerns grow that a narrow focus on core Ebacc subjects leaves little room or incentive for schools to offer pupils arts and creative subjects, the RSC cautions that a ‘one size fits all’ approach could threaten the future of schemes like the LPN - depriving thousands of young people access to the arts and a valuable way into learning for many.
The RSC’s symposium, Whose Culture? will call on the Government to:
- give schools the flexibility to choose a framework that best suits their students
- ensure that the arts are part of a balanced curriculum in all schools, giving every child in every school high quality access to the arts
- ensure that OFSTED assesses and recognises arts and cultural provision and the quality of that teaching in schools
- commit to facilitating stronger links between schools and the cultural sector
Jacqui O’Hanlon, RSC Director of Education, explains:
“Experiences that we have at school can fix our attitudes and beliefs for a lifetime. The current system does not nurture and develop the strengths, talents and aptitudes of all children. In particular we know that young, white boys from low income families are falling behind. We understand that this is, in part, what has driven the Government’s Ebacc reforms, but our work with over 500 schools nationwide and in some of the most socio-economically deprived areas of the country, illustrates overwhelmingly how the arts can provide a way into learning for many young people that traditional EBacc subjects don’t.
“Our concern is that by forcing all schools to adopt the Ebacc, choices will be narrowed to such an extent that young people will be denied a valuable route to learning. We recognise that the EBacc gives an entitlement to Shakespeare for all young people but we would ask the government to pause and think about the impact it will have on the way that Shakespeare is taught in our schools.”
Teachers from across the UK maintain that adopting the RSC’s approaches to teaching and studying Shakespeare has had far reaching implications for learning and aspirations.
“…the LPN has had a greater impact on the learning of the children than any other professional development my staff have had. Our data showed a sharp increase in writing levels – especially for low achievers…The progress across the school was outstanding.” Head Teacher, Stoke-on-Trent.
“The biggest impact was seen to be on boys’ motivation and standards of writing, in particular the lower achieving boys.” Head Teacher, County Durham.
“I have seen a massive difference…most noticeable with the boys and the children who do not see themselves as being particularly academic.” Teacher, West Yorkshire.
“We used to be, academically, one of the lowest achieving non-selective schools in the country. Introducing a more active way of teaching Shakespeare has had a massive impact…and we are now one of the highest achieving non-selective schools in the country”. Head Teacher, Kent.
“I have a year 10 class who are all A/B students and this is partly down to the RSC work because they [the students] are transferring the skills across the curriculum” Head Teacher, Yorkshire.
The RSC’s Learning and Performance Network has worked with 500 schools and 690,516 students across the UK over the past ten years. On Tuesday 5 July, the RSC celebrates 10 years of its LPN with Whose Culture? a symposium for teachers and the cultural sector about the role of culture and the arts in education. As well as a keynote speech from the Chief Executive of Arts Council England, Darren Henley and a panel discussion chaired by broadcaster and journalist, George Alagiah, RSC Education will also launch its new Associate Schools Programme – the next iteration of the LPN programme that will put schools firmly in the driving seat to deliver the programme to a greater number of schools in regions across the country. Its success will depend on the extent to which schools value the arts and feel able to fully participate in a partnership with the RSC and regional theatres.
For more information on the Associate Schools Programme and how to get involved visit: www.rsc.org.uk/associateschools.
Get involved in the debate and follow us on twitter #whoseculture
-Ends-
For more information contact Jo Hammond on 07739 330294 or jo.hammond@rsc.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Taken from the LPN Evaluation Report 2016 – www.rsc.org.uk/education
About the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network.
The Learning and Performance Network (LPN) is our long term partnership programme with schools, communities and theatres across the country.
Established in 2006, the programme works through partnerships of schools and their local theatre over a three year period to bring about a significant change in the way young people experience, engage with, and take ownership of the work of Shakespeare.
The LPN is targeted towards those schools and young people who have least access to Shakespeare, cultural provision and the RSC. It offers teachers in-depth training in active approaches to Shakespeare and postgraduate action research. For students, the programme involves dynamic ways to learn about Shakespeare in the classroom, artist-led projects and performance opportunities.
The Learning and Performance Network programme is now closed and we launch our new long-term partnership programme, RSC Associate Schools on 5 July 2016.
About RSC Education
The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world. Everyone at the RSC - from actors to armourers, musicians to technicians - plays a part in creating the world you see on stage.
We encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare and live theatre and through our Education work change the way that children and young people experience Shakespeare at school. Our approach is rooted in a 130 year history of making theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and sharing that wealth of skills and knowledge with teachers and students all over the world.
We build long term relationships with school, teachers and communities and particularly those who have the least access to Shakespeare, the RSC and cultural provision. Each year we reach over 530,000 young people in over 1,200 schools across the UK, inspiring children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities and ensuring that Shakespeare is for everyone.
Further information from: www.rsc.org.uk/education