A FURNESS school has demonstrated outstanding practice in using the work of Shakespeare to raise the achievement and aspirations of children and young people.

It has now been chosen as one of five across the country to be selected as a ‘lead’ school as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) national Associate Schools Programme.

This is the RSC's long-term partnership programme with more than 250 schools and 11 regional theatre partners nationwide that aims to transform experiences of Shakespeare and theatre for children, young people and their teachers.

Each 'lead' associate takes on a leadership responsibility in their regions, recruiting their own network of local schools to join the programme as RSC Associate Schools.

Teachers at Dowdales and their network of schools work with the RSC practitioners to unlock Shakespeare’s work in and through performance – pushing desks to one side, getting the children up on their feet, speaking the words out loud and exploring the plays through techniques taken from the rehearsal room.

The teachers at Dowdales will work with the RSC for an initial two years and will have the opportunity to renew at this time.

Head teacher Julie O’Connor said: "It’s exciting to be working with the RSC to improve students’ English and drama outcomes via Shakespeare. We have a creative learning environment at Dowdales that brings out the best in students and a partnership with the RSC that we can share with other schools in Furness and across Cumbria to the benefit of all our students is an exciting prospect.”

Speaking about the newly-appointed lead schools, Director of Education for the RSC, Jaqui O’Hanlon said: “Now in its third year, we are thrilled to announce our new cohort of lead associate schools who demonstrate on a daily basis the impact of an arts rich curriculum on whole school communities.

"Lead associate schools are full of children, teachers and governors who inspire each other and their local communities with Shakespeare’s work. We are incredibly proud to work in partnership with such talented, passionate partners at a time when there has never been a more urgent need for work that brings us together and gives us a voice.”

Dowdales will be leading the work of 10 secondary schools across Cumbria over the next two years and teachers will be taking part in a regular programme of workshops and performance projects that will be designed by the school to suit the needs of young people in the area.