Our Shakespeare Learning Zone is a finalist at the Bett Awards 2019.

Standing for British Educational Training and Technology, the awards are an annual celebration of the work done by companies who supply ICT materials for education. We will find out in January if we are a winner in the category of Free Digital Content or Open Educational Resources.

The Learning Zone site, which launched in September, uses our unique archives and experience in staging Shakespeare, along with Samsung's technology expertise, to help 11-18-year-olds get to grips with Shakespeare. It was developed over two years, including months of research and consultation with students and their teachers to understand exactly what support they need in the classroom and when preparing for exams. 

It is the most in-depth online learning resource ever for young people about Shakespeare’s plays, and is completely free, accessible to all, and comes with three different levels of information to support learners of all ages and abilities.

Through the Shakespeare Learning Zone, young people and their teachers can access:

• hundreds of RSC production photographs, videos and interactive content that help pupils unpack Shakespeare’s plots, characters, language and themes 
• step-by-step plot guides and timelines 
• PEE grids to test the knowledge of young people at different stages of their learning
• interactive features, including videos and photos from past RSC productions and character maps that brings characters and their relationships to life

Launched initially with seven of Shakespeare’s best-known plays, two new plays will be added each term to create a comprehensive online bank of resources for pupils and teachers.