CA News
The Ancient Black Sea – by our new Expert in Residence
Dr Richard Kendall, our Expert in Residence, shines a light on his specialist topic, the ancient Black Sea. To explore more, tune in to his online Member Lecture on Wednesday 27 May – sign up here! You can ask Richard a question here. On 4 November 1857, an article in The Times said: ‘To the… Read more »
CA response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s Final Report
Our response to the Curriculum & Assessment Review Final Report The Classical Association welcomes the release of the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report, and the government’s response. This government’s ambition is to ensure that every child and young person receives a ‘rich and broad, and inclusive and innovative education’. Classics should be an essential… Read more »
The Language Crisis HEPI Report
In August 2025, the Higher Education Policy Institute published a report; The Language Crisis: Arresting decline, authored by classicist Megan Bowler. You can read the HEPI report in full here This report found that just 2.97 percent of A Levels taken in 2024 were for modern languages, Welsh and Irish, and classical languages, and that language… Read more »
A Trip to Parliament
A Trip to Parliament Sophie Johns, CA intern, describes attending the CA’s #CelebratingClassics reception at the Houses of Parliament this September. For a recent graduate juggling job applications and the prospect of living with her parents again after four years of university, the invitation to ‘A Celebration of Classics’, a parliamentary reception hosted by Dr Peter… Read more »
Mythology Competition 2025
We received so many wonderful entries in our 2025 Mythology Competition. Previously known as the Minimus Mythology Competition run by the Primary Latin Project, this year, it was brought under the aegis of the Classical Association. Catherine Tildesley has been instrumental in the smooth running of the competition and has written the following report – scroll down to… Read more »
A Manifesto for Today
Paige Dewbrey Winner of our 2025 Write | Speak | Design Competition, Paige is a student from the US, who delivered the following manifesto in response to the question ‘Why is Classics important?’ Against Justification: The Unruly Necessity of Classics The question “Why is Classics Important?” is, at first blush, an offense—a query lobbed like… Read more »
In Memoriam: Barbara Finney
In Memoriam: Barbara Finney Author: Lindsey Davis We are saddened to report the death of Barbara Finney (1941-2024), former Vice President and Officer of the Classical Association. Barbara was a secondary school teacher, an examiner and a stalwart supporter of Classics in the UK; her enthusiasm and dedication to our subject will be much missed. … Read more »
Persephone’s Poets
Persephone’s Poets The winners in our 2024 Poetry Competition certainly brought their A game in translation and delighted us with their creative flair for original compositions. Writers took us on an emotional rollercoaster from the torment of some of mythology’s most famous victims, such as Atlas, Cassandra and Pentheus; to garland-makers, joyful lovers and Olympic… Read more »
In Memory: Prof. Richard Seaford
In Memory: Prof. Richard Seaford AUTHOR: Lorem Ipsum It was with great sadness that the Association learned of the death of Richard Seaford, Professor Emeritus of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter. Richard was President of the Association in 2008-9, in recognition not only of his enormous contribution to classical scholarship, but also… Read more »
A Special Recognition
A Special Recognition READ TIME: 10 MINS We are delighted that our very own Outreach Officer and Chair of the Classics Development Group, Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson, has been made an MBE by King Charles III for Services to Education in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours. Arlene is an Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at… Read more »
What does the CA mean to you?
What does the CA mean to you? READ TIME: 10 MINS 2023 marks 120 years of the Classical Association and we’re taking this opportunity to reflect upon some of our work to widen access to classical subjects over the past century: we created an anniversary film and celebrated with many of our members in person at… Read more »
Around the UK in eighty days!
Around the UK in eighty days! It’s been a busy start to the new academic year as CA branches across England and Wales have welcomed audiences to a variety of events this autumn – from podcaster Tristan Hughes’ visit to the Lancashire coast, to Lampeter and West Wales’ online talks and Guildford CA’s Pizza Night!… Read more »