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Department of Classics and Ancient History

Classics Education and Public Policy

Durham hosts the Centre for Classics Education Research and EngagementS (CERES), an interdisciplinary centre which fosters research on the learning and teaching of classical languages and ancient civilisations in primary, secondary, further, higher and adult/community education. Its founding director is Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson and its deputy director is Professor Edith Hall.
We promote conversation between specialists working in areas currently relevant to ‘Classics Education’, including classroom-based practitioner researchers, policymakers, data scientists, teacher trainers, sociologists of education, archaeologists and classicists. By identifying and sharing best practice in pedagogy, policy and Classics Education research, this centre provides a forum for the consideration of the (many) strategic challenges facing the future of the discipline in schools, communities and universities, e.g. provision for teacher training in classical subjects, geographical and socio-economic disparities in access to Classics, and how to facilitate better communication between examination boards, school leaders, museum professionals, and university classicists about what is studied, by whom, when, and why.
The first Centre of its kind in the UK, CERES is the contact point for policymakers and learned societies which seek expert input on matters relating to Classics Education and pedagogy (e.g. the £4m Latin Excellence Programme launched by England's Department of Education (DfE) in September 2022, the National Co-ordinating Centre for Languages Education launched by the DfE in June 2023). We currently supervise six doctoral students conducting research on topics such as ‘access to classics in schools in England’s north east’, ‘the impact of female retellings of Greek mythology on Classical Civilisation uptake in schools’ and ‘Classics education for neurodivergent learners’. We continue to welcome research students, visiting scholars and engagement professionals to spend time with us.
Since 2017, Professor Holmes-Henderson and Professor Hall have led the Advocating Classics Education project which works to widen access to the study of Classical Civilisation and Ancient History in state-maintained schools. To learn more about this national project, including its recent expansion to prisons, see: www.aceclassics.org.uk

 

Advocating Classics Education

The Advocating Classics Education (ACE) project is a national campaign to increase access to the study of the classical world in secondary schools and sixth form colleges across the United Kingdom. ACE is a partnership of fifteen universities in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales and England. Since 2017, the project has co-hosted twelve high profile events for teachers, students and members of the public to raise the status of qualifications in Classical Civilisation and Ancient History.
Project website
ace logo

PIs: Prof. Edith Hall and Prof. Arlene Holmes-Henderson

The project has received funding from AHRC (£350,000) and was awarded a major grant by the Classical Association.

Learn more about Prof Hall's research here

The Ancient Today Project

Prof. Arlene Holmes-Henderson is a partner investigator on the University of Western Australia’s ‘The Ancient Today’ project, led by Professor Yasmin Haskell and funded by the Australian Research Council. The team (with researchers in Australia, China, Singapore, Thailand, Italy, Germany and the UK) will examine the purpose and value of classical Chinese, Greek, Latin and Sanskrit language, both historically and within global education systems today.
Project website
pula amphitheatre

Partner investigator: Prof. Arlene Holmes-Henderson

The project will compare teaching ideals and practices across different eras and cultures, as well as testing the potential of inclusive classical language learning to boost educational outcomes for disadvantaged students. The project will publish two books, a range of scholarly articles and a selection of educational policy reports to help better inform decision making regarding where, and how, classical languages and cultures are taught.

Learn about Prof. Holmes-Henderson's research here

Levelling Up Through Talk: how does oracy contribute to social mobility and employability?

Prof. Arlene Holmes-Henderson holds a British Academy Innovation Fellowship (2022-2024) working with Voice 21, the national oracy education charity, conducting research into the impact of young people’s speaking and listening skills on their life chances. UK employers have identified a fundamental problem: a 2016 survey by the Confederation of British Industries found that 50% of businesses were unsatisfied with school leavers’ skills in communication.
Voice 21 website
voice 21

PI: Prof. Arlene Holmes-Henderson

This Knowledge Exchange partnership with Voice 21, six government departments, an APPG and several NGOs will facilitate the first large-scale analysis of oracy's impact on young people's skills acquisition, including their social mobility and employability. This will fill gaps in the existing evidence base helping policymakers understand better the connection between 'speaking well', socio-economic status and employment destinations.

Learn about Prof. Holmes-Henderson's research here

Staff working in this research area

Learn more about our colleagues who work in the area of Classics Education and Public Policy.

Prof. Edith Hall

Professor (Greek Literature)
Edith Hall

Prof. Arlene Holmes-Henderson MBE

Professor (Classics Education and Public Policy)
Arlene Holmes-Henderson

Dr Anna Judson

Assistant Professor (Epigraphy and Linguistics)
Anna Judson

Dr Sarah Miles

Associate Professor (Greek Literature)
Sarah Miles

Justine Wolfenden

Assistant Professor (Latin Literature)
Justine Wolfenden

Transformative Classics

Classics at Durham explores the myriad cultures and contexts of the ancient Mediterranean world, from ancient Greek philosophy to Latin linguistics. We engage in collaborations across the humanities, sciences, and social sciences to develop innovative research methods and techniques.

 

Transformative Humanities

Transformative Humanities

Discover the Faculty of Arts and Humanities' new Transformative Humanities framework which brings together distinctive approaches to humanities research and education within the academy and across a wide range of partners and communities.

Visit the Transformative Humanities website

   

Find out more

  • Publications

    Read the latest books written and edited by colleagues in our department.

    A pile of open books

  • Meet our staff

    Learn more about the work and research specialisms of our colleagues.

    Members of staff from Department of Classics and Ancient History

Publications

Read the latest books written and edited by colleagues in our department.

A pile of open books

Meet our staff

Learn more about the work and research specialisms of our colleagues.

Members of staff from Department of Classics and Ancient History

Postdoctoral research funding

Find out about fellowship and scholarship opportunities to undertake research at Durham.

Durham Cathedral

Events and seminars

View our events calendar for the latest research seminars and workshops.

Students presenting in Classics and Ancient History