Shakespeare most likely attended King's New School in Stratford-upon-Avon. His actual enrollment records haven't survived, but historians are confident about this based on his family's standing in the community.
About King's New School
This free grammar school dated back to medieval times and was re-established by King Edward VI in 1553. Since Shakespeare's father served as a prominent local official (alderman and bailiff), William would have been eligible to attend without charge.
Location
The school occupied the Guildhall building on Church Street – still standing today. The classroom was on the upper floor, above the Guild Chapel.
The Schedule
Grammar school in Tudor England was demanding:
- Classes ran from 6 or 7 AM to 5 or 6 PM
- Six days a week (Sunday off for church)
- Brief breaks for meals
- Short holidays at Christmas and Easter
The Curriculum
The curriculum centered heavily on Latin and classical literature – rigorous by any standard.
Core Subjects
- Latin grammar and composition – The foundation of the entire program
- Latin literature – Works by Ovid, Virgil, Horace, Cicero, Seneca
- Rhetoric – The art of persuasive argument and writing
- Logic – Fundamental reasoning skills
- Greek – To a lesser extent than Latin
- Arithmetic – Basic mathematics
Key Texts
Students committed to memory passages from:
- Ovid's Metamorphoses (its influence pervades Shakespeare's work)
- Virgil's Aeneid
- Cicero's orations
- Seneca's tragedies
- Comedies by Plautus and Terence
Evidence in His Work
Shakespeare's plays reveal his grammar school education clearly:
- Classical allusions throughout – Greek and Roman mythology, history, literature
- Ovid's presence – Stories from Metamorphoses appear repeatedly
- Latin elements – Quotes and wordplay drawn from his studies
- Rhetorical craft – His speeches employ classical persuasion techniques
No University Education
Unlike some contemporaries (Christopher Marlowe, for instance), Shakespeare never attended university. Oxford and Cambridge were the only options, and both required either money or connections.
This fact later fueled doubts about his authorship – how could someone without a university degree produce such brilliant work? Most scholars now agree that his grammar school training, combined with natural talent and extensive reading, fully accounts for his abilities.
"Small Latin and Less Greek"
Fellow playwright Ben Jonson famously remarked that Shakespeare had "small Latin and less Greek." Interpretations vary:
- Some read it as criticism of his formal education
- Others note that "small" by university standards was still substantial
- Modern scholars believe Shakespeare possessed solid Latin foundations that he continued building throughout his life
His grammar school education, while not university-level, proved sufficient to produce one of the greatest writers in history. A reminder that formal credentials don't tell the whole story.