Education Projects
RSC Associate Schools programme
The RSC Associate Schools Programme is our long-term partnership programme. We want to use the next academic year to support resilient learners using the power of Shakespeare.
The Associate Schools programme is open to secondary, primary and special state schools in England and we seek to recruit schools from across Norfolk, that serve areas of relatively high socio-economic deprivation.
The programme is built around the principle of schools working in local partnerships to develop communities of practice, our partnership here in the East of England is vibrant and resolute.
The fundamental ambition of the Associate School Programme is to bring about a significant change in the way young people experience, engage with, and take ownership of the work of Shakespeare.
Teachers learn to explore Shakespeare with their students in the way actors do in a rehearsal room, using dynamic, active approaches. Having a laugh is the key!
Wise About Words
Wise About Words is a two year partnership project between Norwich Theatre and The Wensum Trust, generously funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Teacher Development Fund. Empowering teachers and Senior Leaders working with artists to harness the power of story-sharing and reduce barriers to learning for pupils experiencing disadvantage.
Across Norfolk the project explores the barriers to learning in eight primary schools in urban, rural and coastal locations. Wise About Words will support teacher’s professional development and learning in the delivery of effective arts-based learning in the primary classroom. The project is designed to be immersive and collaborative with teacher, artists and senior leaders in schools working together as co-learners to improve outcomes for pupils.
Norfolk Schools Opera Project
The Norfolk Schools Opera Project was established in 1997. In the interim years, we have worked with over 3,500 children and 350 teachers from 123 Norfolk schools.
The purpose of the project is to engage Key Stage 2 children in creative and cultural learning through the medium of opera in order to foster a long-term relationship with the arts, enhance their school attainment, and develop their aspirations. The project has a particular focus on supporting pupils facing serious socio-economic disadvantage.
In 2019 the programme included an Opera Celebration Day, CPD for teachers, singing and music workshops for children, and the creation of a brand new children’s version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Featuring a fusion between classic opera and salsa, the opera was performed at NorwichTheatre Royal in June; a shorter version featuring over 600 students/performers was then presented at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November 2019.