Partnership
A Royal Shakespeare Company Lead Associate School
HSDC College Group is proud to be a Lead Associate School of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), one of the most celebrated theatre companies in the world. As the regional hub for the RSC’s Associate Schools Programme in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, we work alongside the RSC and our partner theatre, the Mayflower in Southampton, to bring Shakespeare to life for young people across the region.
11
schools and colleges in our Hampshire and Isle of Wight cluster.
3
colleges taking part: Havant Sixth Form College, South Downs College and Alton College.
2025
the year HSDC College Group became an RSC Lead Associate School.
What is the Associate Schools Programme?
The Associate Schools Programme is the RSC’s long-term partnership with schools and regional theatres across England. Teacher development sits at its heart: teachers learn the RSC’s rehearsal room approaches, which treat Shakespeare as something to be performed, questioned and explored on your feet, not just read from the page. The programme has a particular focus on communities facing structural disadvantage, so that every young person has the chance to make Shakespeare their own.
As a Lead Associate School, HSDC College Group builds and leads a local cluster of schools, hosts RSC-led training for English and Drama teachers from across the area, and creates performance opportunities for students, including the regional Playmaking Festival.
What it means for our community
For our students
RSC productions performed at our own colleges, trips to Stratford-upon-Avon, backstage work experience with the RSC’s Next Generation programme, and the chance to perform alongside young people from across the region.
For teachers
Practical training led by RSC practitioners, invitations to the RSC’s national Connected symposium, and membership of a nationwide community of schools, colleges and theatres sharing what works.
For the region
Partner schools from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight share in workshops, performances and festivals, supported by the Mayflower Theatre, so that more young people across Hampshire experience live Shakespeare.
Our journey with the RSC
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December 2023
Othello in the rehearsal room
South Downs College hosted an RSC workshop on Othello for staff from all three of our colleges and teachers from local schools, exploring practical ways to bring the text to life in English and Drama lessons.
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November 2024
Romeo and Juliet at Havant
Shakespeare academic Tracy Irish led a training session at Havant Sixth Form College for English and Drama teachers from seven Hampshire schools, following similar sessions at Alton College and South Downs College.
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2024
Lead Associate School status confirmed
HSDC College Group officially became an RSC Lead Associate School, with nine local schools signing up to the new cluster at launch. Staff from all three colleges joined the RSC’s Connected event in Stratford-upon-Avon.
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November 2025
King Lear comes to Havant and Alton
The RSC performed its First Encounters production of King Lear, a 90-minute version created for young audiences, at Havant Sixth Form College and Alton College. Our students were joined by pupils from Oakmoor, Admiral Lord Nelson, Trafalgar and Mayfield schools.
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January 2026
Outstanding English Literature results
Havant Sixth Form College’s English Literature students achieved a 100% A Level pass rate, with 53% gaining A*–B. RSC masterclasses and projects are a key part of the department’s enriched offer.
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February 2026
Connected symposium in Stratford
Staff from HSDC College Group joined Associate Schools from across the country for training, a performance of Measure for Measure and a panel on closing the arts access gap, on which our own Pete Budd spoke.
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March 2026
Backstage with the RSC
Students Lara and Pippa completed a Next Generation Backstage placement, working with the Scenic and Props teams and moving set pieces during live scenes.
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June 2026
Playmaking Festival at South Downs
Students from schools across our cluster, now 11 strong, performed a specially adapted A Midsummer Night’s Dream at South Downs College as part of the RSC, Mayflower Theatre and HSDC College Group Playmaking Festival.
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September 2026
20 years of partnership at the RSC Arts Symposium
HSDC College Group representatives travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon for the RSC’s Building Partnerships symposium, celebrating 20 years of partnerships between schools, theatres and communities. Attendees also saw Factory, a new verbatim play performed by the RSC’s Next Generation Act company.
“Attending the Connected event has underlined what a fantastic programme it is: for developing our pedagogy; for building relationships; for working within a national network of schools, colleges and theatres; and for providing superb opportunities for young people.”
Pete Budd
Assistant Principal, Havant Sixth Form College
Latest news from our RSC partnership
From our cluster
February 2026
Shakespeare for all: HSDC visits Stratford-upon-Avon
Partnership announced
December 2023
HSDC hosts Royal Shakespeare Company workshop
Find out more from the RSC
- The Associate Schools Programme
How the RSC partners with schools and theatres across England.
- What a Lead Associate School does
The qualities and core commitments behind our role.
- Where the programme works
Clusters across England, including Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
- Associate Schools impact report
See what has been happening in Associate Schools around the country.
- Playmaking Festivals
How students from Associate Schools perform Shakespeare on stage.