Chickerell Primary Academy wins national competition for Shakespeare Week
Year 6 pupils were asked to respond to a quote from The Tempest
Last updated 20th May 2022
Students at a primary school in Weymouth have won a national competition for Shakespeare Week.
Year 6 pupils at Chickerell Primary Academy were asked to respond to a quote from The Tempest - "A turn or two I'll walk, to still my beating mind."
Youngsters were asked what the quote meant to them.
Over 300 entries were received from primary school children, aged between 4 and 11 years.
Sally Gray, Shakespeare Week education officer at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said, “It wasn’t easy to select our winners and in order to do so we looked carefully to see evidence that the children had reflected on Shakespeare’s words – what did the quote mean to them and how did they relate it to their own experiences? We also admired the quality and originality of the children’s creative responses.
“We feel privileged to have been given an insight into the thoughts and feelings of young children as they emerge from the pandemic. Many of the children that sent us their work mentioned how recent events had affected them and many also talked openly about their own personal difficulties and the emotions they felt.
“It feels very appropriate that we are announcing the results of the competition during Mental Health Awareness Week and we hope that other young people will visit the online exhibition to read about the children’s personal experiences as well as their tips for good mental wellbeing.”
Fiona Bedford, Year 6 teacher at Chickerell Primary Academy said:
“Mental Health and emotional wellbeing are valued at our school but it is not always easy to ‘still a beating mind’ when it is growing so quickly and is busy with thoughts, worries and trying to navigate day to day life.
“Taking part in the competition has offered our children an opportunity to truly express who they are as individuals and to really consider how their own interests and talents support their physical and emotional wellbeing.
“We loved taking part in Shakespeare Week this year, it was a wonderful way for the children to engage with Shakespeare and ignite a new interest for his work.”
Shakespeare Week - is the annual national celebration of Shakespeare in primary schools run by independent charity, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.