Reviews

"We chose Cambridge Shakespeare as an attractive and affordable edition which helps students take an active, lively approach to their study of the play while still providing the supporting material they need to aid understanding and appreciation of the text."
Tracey King, Head of English, Corfe Hills School, Dorset

"The Cambridge School Shakespeare is a mine of ideas and information for students and teachers. Having the glossary alongside the original allows those who need it to have a quick reference without having to draw attention to themselves and promotes confidence in getting to grips with less familiar language. The ideas for study illustrate to students how one text can be approached from a myriad of angles."
Moyra Beverton, The Cavendish School, Hertfordshire

"Cambridge School Shakespeare is an ideal book for Key Stage 3 - clear, attractive, and with lively and engaging activities. It gives students opportunities to become really involved in Shakespeare as drama."
Mr J P Cutler, Head of English, Poole Grammar School, Dorset

"The Cambridge School Shakespeare offers so much more than just the text. It offers imaginative and relevant activities for pupils to undertake, really enhancing their understanding of drama and Shakespeare as a writer. The brief page by page summaries are essential for pupils who struggle to interpret the language, in maintaining their enjoyment of Shakespeare's works and feeling they 'can do' Shakespeare."
Mr K Hatchard, Head of English, Mascalls School, Kent

"Clearly the best for Key Stages 3 and 4. Always our first choice."
John Gallagher, Head of English, Stratford upon Avon Grammar School for Girls

"We have used Cambridge School Shakespeare texts for years. They are a teacher's dream - a brilliant mix of clear explanations and meaningful tasks - and they help to break down the invisible wall that kids often have to Shakespeare."
Mike Winkworth, Head of English, Portchester, Bournemouth

"The various editions all present different strengths. Overall though, for English teachers, the Cambridge series still upstages its rivals. Competitively priced, the emphasis remains on the provision of numerous classroom activities, of which there are now many more lively and thought-provoking additional tasks, which can be tailored to the individual needs of any group, of any ability, right across the key stages.

Colour photos from recent productions tell the key events of the plot and are effective in reminding students that there is no one true reading of a Shakespeare play. Indeed, this remains the philosophy behind the series - Independent thought and active learning are carefully supported, encouraged and respected as the underlying driving force behind all aspects of the edition.

Cambridge is ideal for all secondary-aged Shakespeare readers. It offers uncluttered, unthreatening large page layouts (with notes and activities positioned opposite each page of text), as well as pupil-friendly use of clear, plain language. Although it avoids including sophisticated literary vocabularies, it rerfuses to reduce or simplify content or ideas, with stimulating sections towards the back of the editions covering key assessment objectives, such as characters, language and performance. The whole approach of this lively, excellent series supports the understanding that Shakespeare's plays are just that - plays, not literary texts. Cambridge empowers."
TES Teacher

"This is the best series if you want clear text, and helpful and inventive tasks. None of the other editions comes close to these in terms of references to productions and background. The language is friendly and the tasks are stimulating, but carefully blended with extremely useful information about meaning, context and awareness of stage history".
TES Teacher

"Cambridge is more exacting and imaginative. A full range of required activities is there, but the editor does not defer to officialdom and respects the student's independent intelligence. For able students of any age, and everyone post-GCSE, Cambridge is the outright winner."
TES

"The Cambridge School Shakespeare series places drama and theatre firmly in the forefront of its approach, while so many school Shakespeare's merely claim or pretend to do so. Attractively produced and printed, these books have a deliberately limited editorial apparatus. They dispense with the usual critical introduction and make explanatory textual notes as few, concise and inconspicuous as possible. Instead, they concentrate on drama-based activities, positioned opposite the text and in a two-page cluster at the end of each act. With good sense and great skill, much linguistic aid and interpretative substance are seamlessly interwoven with the presentation of activities, so that students are simultaneously taught and put in charge of their own work. . . Cambridge sets you free."
TES

"The text itself is uncluttered and helpful comments are easily accessible on facing pages. The suggestions for activities throughout are stimulating and varied, allowing teachers to adapt and select according to the ability and aptitude of the class and even more importantly many of them can be carried out in the classroom."
English Department, St Ivo School, Cambridgeshire

"We like the layout of the pages - they have text on the on side with really good activities for the class on the other plus a glossary and brief synopsis of the speeches. The children feel more confident using the text because of the glossary and synopses, and the activities are invaluable. The 'Looking Back' activities are also really useful because they give interesting information and also develop and extend the knowledge the pupils have."
Class Teacher, Manor High School, Leicester

"The Literature Team in our sixth form college finds the Cambridge texts helpful for both students and staff. As well as useful annotations and glossary, they include questions and approaches which enhance the learning and teaching experience and focus on key assessment objectives."
Curriculum Co-ordinator for Literature, Barton Peveril College, Hampshire

"The design, structure and style of this series makes them perfect for working with students in the classroom. The principle of arranging a combination of commentary, glossary and ideas for activities opposite a page of text is highly effective. It promotes carefully focussed group work designed to encourage close reading of the text as script so students can grasp the importance of the plays as performance. In addition, the excellent review material at the back of the texts enables intelligently guided independent learning which provides the first stage for our students in their preparation of ideas for coursework."
Head of English Literature, Bilborough College, Nottingham