RSC LAUNCHES WRITING PROJECT AS PART OF EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION RESEARCH FUND
Teachers looking to boost pupils’ writing skills are invited to join a new research programme led by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). The research is part of an investment package announced today by the Education Endowment Fund (EEF).
The RSC project is one of 11 research initiatives* to receive funding from the EEF. Each focuses on improving children’s writing or maths skills and will be independently evaluated to assess its impact, particularly on children in areas of socio-economic disadvantage. This is important because research from the National Literacy Trust (2023) shows that nearly half of disadvantaged 11 year olds left primary school unable to write at the expected level.
Rehearsal Room Writing builds on the success of the RSC’s award-winning research, Time to Act, which demonstrated a clear link between RSC ‘rehearsal room’ approaches to teaching Shakespeare and improvements in children’s writing and language skills. RSC rehearsal room approaches are based on the way RSC actors work in rehearsals and are proven to help learners at all levels unlock Shakespeare’s themes and language as well as improve literacy, communication, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Between now and June 2025, the RSC is calling for expressions of interest from Year 5 primary school teachers across England. Successful applicants will be split into two randomised groups: one intervention and one control group. Intervention teachers will attend five training sessions at the RSC’s Stratford-upon-Avon base, where they will learn how to use rehearsal room techniques such as games, freeze frames, soundscapes, character profiles, images and choral readings to explore Shakespeare’s plays. These techniques will then be applied to their own teaching for 20 hours over the 2026 Spring and Summer terms. Both control and intervention groups will ask students to develop a series of written responses which will be independently analysed by researchers from NFER and the University of Exeter to assess the impact of the intervention on children’s attainment and writing skills.
A final report from EEF will assess the effect of this learning programme on Year 5 pupils’ writing ability, their belief in their writing ability, and their enjoyment of writing, alongside their teachers’ perception of their ability to teach writing.
Commenting on the announcement, RSC Director of Creative Learning and Engagement, Jacqui O’Hanlon, said:
“We know from the research we’ve conducted that when children embody the action and language of Shakespeare’s plays they make significant progress in oracy, communication, language acquisition and writing. For many educators, constraints on time, funding and resources prevents them from trying new ways of teaching. EEF funded research provides impartial, trustworthy evidence about teaching approaches that transform young people’s learning. We look forward to embarking on this new research study and are delighted to be working alongside projects that aim to narrow the disadvantage gap.”
The EEF and RSC are actively recruiting schools to participate in the research with EEF looking for 1,500 schools and settings across England to take part across its 11 new projects. The RSC aims to sign up 200 primary schools to its Rehearsal Room Writing project.
For more information about taking part in Rehearsal Room Writing, visit: https://www.rsc.org.uk/learn/research/current-research/rehearsal-room-writing
*For full list and more information about the wider EEF programme ‘search your school’ to learn more and register interest to take part.
Notes to Editors:
Intervention schools will be asked to contribute £200 towards the cost of the training they will receive, although teachers’ travel expenses will be covered and the school will receive £200 teacher cover for each of the days that they are in Stratford (£1,000). Control schools will not undertake the CPD but will receive £500 as a thank you for participating in the project and completing the evaluation activities.
About RSC Creative Learning and Engagement
The Creative Learning and Engagement team works in classrooms and with communities redefining how Shakespeare’s work, theatre, arts and heritage are learnt about, engaged with and made. Reaching over 1,000 schools a year the team creatively engage children, young people, teachers and life-long learners with the work of the RSC through a year-round, multiplatform programme of workshops, events, courses and resources. Through our Associate Schools Programme we work in long term partnership with over 280 schools and 16 regional theatres in areas of structural disadvantage across England to improve life chances and learning outcomes for children and young people.
The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
The work of the RSC is supported by the Culture Recovery Fund
The RSC is generously supported by RSC America
Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s mission is to bring people together to experience stories that deepen our understanding of ourselves, each other and the world around us, and that bring joy. Shakespeare’s restless exploration of all of human nature is our inspiration and touchstone.
The Company’s roots lie in the bold vision of a local brewer, Edward Fordham Flower, who in 1879 established a theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon with his son Charles. The RSC as we know it today was formed by Sir Peter Hall, whose ambition was to produce new plays alongside those of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. We continue this today across our three permanent theatres in Stratford – the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and The Other Place – and indeed online and around the globe. We believe everybody’s life can be enriched by culture and creativity. Our transformative Creative Learning and Engagement programmes reach over half a million young people and adults each year. We have collaborated with generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future.
Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk
About the Education Endowment Foundation
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement. We do this by supporting schools, colleges, and early years settings to improve teaching and learning through better use of evidence.
About the National Foundation for Educational Research
The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) is the leading independent provider of education research, and holds the status of Independent Research Organisation (IRO) from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Its unique position and approach delivers evidence-based insights designed to enable education policy makers and practitioners to take action to improve outcomes for children and young people.
