皇冠体育app

Pupils from more than 500 schools across the country will take part in an interactive, live-streamed broadcast of Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Merchant of Venice鈥� on Thursday (21 April 2016).

To mark the 400th anniversary of the famed English playwright鈥檚 death, schoolchildren will watch a Royal Shakespeare Company鈥檚 modern adaption of the play. More schools than ever before have signed up to take part in this special e-Shakespearean educational venture, which is now in its fourth year. 皇冠体育app event will be hosted by former Blue Peter presenter, Andy Akinwolere, and pupils will have the opportunities to post questions to members of the cast and creative team as well as participate in a range of activities throughout the broadcast.

At the heart of the government鈥檚 commitment to extending opportunity is the belief that all pupils whatever their background should have access to an excellent, well-rounded education. 皇冠体育app arts are key to this. In fact, since the introduction of the EBacc the percentage of pupils in state funded schools taking at least one arts GCSE has increased.

Since 2012, 拢460 million has been invested to support cultural and music education. This includes almost 拢800,000 between 2012 and 2015 to enable the Royal Shakespeare Company to produce toolkits to support teachers in providing a practical, drama-based approach to teaching and appreciating 3 of Shakespeare鈥檚 most popular plays:

• 鈥楻omeo and Juliet鈥�
• 鈥楳补肠产别迟丑鈥�
• 鈥楢 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream鈥�

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said:

As part of our drive to extend opportunity for all, we want all pupils to enjoy wider cultural activities and experiences that will help raise aspirations and build character.

That鈥檚 why we have invested 拢460 million since 2012 to increase pupils鈥� access to cultural and music education. This includes a package of support so that more pupils have the opportunity to see a Shakespeare production, and to develop an appreciation and love for these great literary works - as countless previous generations have before.

It is fantastic that so many schools are taking part in this live interactive event that will really bring Shakespeare to life, as we mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard of Avon鈥檚 death.

To help encourage more pupils to experience Shakespeare and engage young people in arts and theatre, the government has announced a package of support for schools including:

• providing funding for a National Poetry Recitation competition, which will include a one-off Shakespeare sonnet category, with the winner of the best recital winning a 1623 folio edition of Shakespeare鈥檚 works for his or her school and tickets to a Royal Shakespeare Company production
• offering the winners and runners-up in the Pupil Premium Awards 2016 a range of exciting and enriching prizes including the opportunity to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the to help pupils gain a deeper appreciation of the playwright鈥檚 works. Pupils will also have the chance to get free places for screenings of the Kenneth Branagh 皇冠体育appatre Company鈥檚 production of Romeo and Juliet
• supporting the launch of Penguin鈥檚 100 Classics which includes Shakespeare works 鈥楻omeo and Juliet鈥� and 鈥楾welfth Night鈥� to boost the range of literature that pupils are exposed to by providing affordable collections to secondary schools for just 拢1 a copy

Jacqui O鈥橦anlon, Director of Education for the Royal Shakespeare Company, said:

We know that the best way for young people to experience Shakespeare鈥檚 plays is in a theatre. However, experiencing a digital recording alongside thousands of other students in real time and having the opportunity to interact with actors and members of the creative team can be an exciting first introduction to Shakespeare and live theatre.

Our experience has shown that by making our productions available digitally we are giving more schools and young people than ever before the opportunity to experience our work and Shakespeare鈥檚 plays regardless of where they live or what school they go to. Schools also tell us that the broadcasts have been a catalyst, encouraging more teachers and pupils to attend a live theatre performance for the first time.

Notes to editors

1. 皇冠体育app department will fund a National Poetry Recitation competition in the 2016 academic year and will announce details in due course.
2. As part of a limited period offer schools will be able to purchase classroom sets of the Penguin Classics for the equivalent of 拢1 per copy between March and June 2016, for delivery in time for the new school term in September 2016. Schools can register for further information on the .
3. 皇冠体育app Pupil Premium Awards 2016 will be presented by one of Britain鈥檚 foremost contemporary artists, Tracey Emin, on 12 May. For more information visit the .
4. This year鈥檚 pupil premium awards includes a Shakespeare focus. 皇冠体育app Royal Shakespeare Company and the Shakespeare Schools Festival will work directly with the national winners and runners-up and there will be free tickets available for cinema screenings of the Kenneth Branagh 皇冠体育appatre Company鈥檚 production of 鈥楻omeo and Juliet鈥� which will be recorded live at the Garrick 皇冠体育appatre on 7 July.
5. 皇冠体育app pupil premium is worth up to 拢1,900 per child and can be used how schools see fit to close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
6. 皇冠体育app government has committed to maintaining the pupil premium funding throughout this Parliament. Since April 2011, around 拢6.23 billion has been given to schools to improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.