HSDC College Group is looking forward to another exciting year working with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), continuing its role as a Lead Associate School for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight cluster alongside the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.
Representatives from HSDC College Group recently travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon to attend the RSC’s ‘Building Partnerships: A 20-Year Story Arts Symposium’, an event celebrating 20 years of long-term partnerships between schools, theatres and communities across England and looking ahead to the next chapter of this work.
The symposium brought together school leaders, teachers, artists, theatre practitioners, arts leaders and policymakers to share ideas and reflect on the impact of long-term partnerships between education and the arts. Discussions explored how these partnerships can remain responsive, equitable and creative, and the role they can play in widening opportunities for young people.
Attendees also watched Factory, a new verbatim play created by arts charity LUNG and performed by the RSC’s Next Generation Act company, exploring young people’s experiences of school and what it takes to find themselves and their voice.
Pete Budd, Assistant Principal of Havant Sixth Form College, said:
“It was wonderful to attend the RSC’s Arts Symposium as a Lead Teacher for HSDC College Group. The event’s focus – building partnerships – is at the heart of our work with the RSC and our ‘theatre partner’, The Mayflower. We enjoyed sessions relating to educational policy and the Arts, creative and active workshops, and the opportunity to learn how the RSC’s Associate Schools Programme creates incredible opportunities for young people across the country. It was an excellent symposium, and left me feeling inspired to continue our fantastic work with the RSC.”
Since joining the programme, HSDC College Group has continued to build on the partnership through professional development workshops for local English and Drama teachers and Playmaking Festivals, bringing students and teachers together to explore Shakespeare in creative and engaging ways.
Following an inspiring day at the symposium, HSDC College Group is excited to build on this work throughout the year ahead, continuing its partnership with the RSC and the Mayflower Theatre to create enriching opportunities for students, teachers and schools across the region.