Shakespeare Week, the annual, national celebration of Shakespeare for primary school children, is returning for its 10th anniversary from 18-24 March 2024. Since its inception, Shakespeare Week has positively impacted millions of children, sparking curiosity and nurturing creativity through specially created and curated educational activities and resources provided by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT).
Organised by the learning team at the SBT, Shakespeare Week has become an influential, annual event in schools and with families across the UK, bringing the iconic playwright to life and creating a positive first experience of Shakespeare for all children.
Over the past decade, the celebration has evolved into a vital tool for empowering teachers with the confidence and expertise to teach a subject area that can sometimes be seen as daunting. Teachers have especially found the free digital resources created and shared by the SBT’s learning team and partners invaluable for creating innovative and accessible lesson plans to inspire their pupils.
‘’Shakespeare Week has helped transform our school! When I first discovered Shakespeare Week, I wasn’t really into Shakespeare, but thought I’d give it a try with my class using the resources. I was blown away by the reaction of the children. These were inner city 9-year-olds, who struggled with behaviour and engagement and yet when it came to engaging with Henry V and the associated resources, they couldn’t get enough of it.
‘’After seeing the impact Shakespeare Week had on a single class, I rolled it out across the whole school, with children as young as 3 engaging with Shakespeare. People think Shakespeare is for the elite or for older teenagers – so many people underestimate younger children and the power Shakespeare can have on them.’’
Commented Sally Maddison, Headteacher of Sir John Sherbrooke Junior School.
In 2017, an estimated 1.5 million pupils participated in activities, and by 2023, the programme is believed to have reached up to two million children – and it continues to thrive.
‘’Our learning team is dedicated to supporting teachers find new, accessible, and exciting ways to deliver Shakespeare themed activities, while still meeting their current curriculum objectives and so we’re thrilled to see that schools are coming back year after year to celebrate Shakespeare Week and take advantage of the cross-curricular resources, events, and activities that we provide.
‘’Around half of the UK’s primary schools have now signed up on our website and we’re delighted to continue to link up in a deeper way with communities through our work in our twelve regional Shakespeare Hubs and with libraries and our cultural partners.’’
Added Sally Gray, Shakespeare Week Project Manager at the SBT, the organiser of Shakespeare Week.
Children invited to design the official Shakespeare Week poster
Shakespeare Week 2024 is launching with a new competition, inviting children to unleash their creativity and design the official event poster. The winning poster will be published and distributed to schools, libraries, and partner venues across the country. Full details about the competition and how to apply can be found at www.shakespeareweek.org.uk/poster-competition/.
Leading up to and during the week, there is an ambitious programme of events planned in the Shakespeare Hub regions across the country, as well as a celebratory event and free family-friendly activities in the iconic playwright’s home of Stratford-upon-Avon.
To empower primary school teachers with the confidence and expertise to teach Shakespeare in innovative and accessible ways, the SBT will also be publishing free digital resources and broadcasting special events during the week.
‘’We’re excited to share a lively programme of events and activities in celebration of ten years of this inspiring project that brings Shakespeare’s works, life and times into classrooms, homes, and cultural venues across the UK. We’ll be sharing the best of what we have learned and developed over the last decade and look to the future with a range of new events, resources, and initiatives.’’
Commented Andy Reeves, Head of Learning Development at the Trust.
As part of the ongoing celebrations, schools across the nation have the opportunity to request their free copy of the Children’s Folio, which includes all 36 plays in Shakespeare’s original First Folio in an abridged format, through the SBT website, with distribution starting in early 2024.
Shakespeare Week 2024 will run from 18-24 March 2024. Teachers are encouraged to visit Shakespeare Week to register for free resources and stay updated.
Please see www.shakespeare.org.uk/education/ for more information about the SBT’s learning initiatives and access an array of free digital resources.