By Steven Hunt
A Family of Learners
The Cambridge Greek Academy is not just about learning ancient Greek: it is about building friendships, sharing experiences and discovering the joy of learning about the ancient world together. On Saturday 29th November, Charlotte Cane, MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, came to visit to see for herself what the students were up to and to learn from the organisers how the Academy worked. Charlotte used to be an archaeologist and has a keen interest in the ancient world. She is an officer of the Classics All-Party Parliamentary Group and is a supporter of Classics Education.
Learning Together, All Year Round
Every week, students log on for 90 minutes of online lessons, with 35 sessions spread across the year. It’s a big commitment, but one that brings real rewards. Every half term, the Academy gathers in person at the Faculty of Classics in Cambridge. These half-term meetups in autumn and spring (plus a final summer celebration after exams) are a chance to connect face-to-face and learn in new ways.
The activities are as varied as they are fun: scavenger hunts in the Fizwilliam Museum, potsherd painting, storytelling, timed translation practice and mini lectures. The most recent session featured Dr. Rosanna Omitowoju speaking on Homer’s Odyssey. Greek drama has also taken centre stage, with drama workshops supported by Actors of Dionysus.
Making Classics Accessible
The Academy gets most of its funding from the charity Classics for All (here represented by Alice Case, its Programme Director and a keen Hellenist) and also from the Plato Foundation, the Cambridge Schools Classics Project and the Classics Faculty at Cambridge itself. For the students, the Academy is free to attend. Teachers are funded, the Faculty provides space, and students can focus on learning without worrying about cost.
Growing Numbers, Lasting Bonds
This year, 58 new students signed up, with 48 sticking with the programme. This is a strong turnout given the demands of the course, especially when students have so many other commitments. Altogether, 82 learners are part of the Academy in 2025. While some naturally drop off, many stay and form lasting friendships across age groups and regions.
One group, affectionately known as the Batrakhoi, has been with the Academy for five years. They come from East Anglia and even London, helping with drama productions and mentoring newer students. They are proof that the Academy is not just about lessons — it’s about belonging.
Achievements Worth Celebrating
Students take on real challenges: last year, 8 sat the Intermediate Certificate in Classical Greek (ICCG), 8 completed GCSE Classical Greek, and 2 pursued AS, joining another 8 students from London in the new online AS offered by Classics For All. While the Academy prefers not to offer A levels to avoid clashing with school exams, it still provides a strong pathway for learners who want to push themselves further.
Beyond exams, students shine in competitions and events: the local Classical Association’s Greek Reading Competition, the Classics Olympiad, and the Cambridge Greek play. One student even received their ICCG award from Charlotte Cane MP, a proud moment for the whole community.
Creativity in the Classroom
Teaching online is not always easy. It can be a challenge in encouraging students to speak up while their teacher and their fellow students are at their screens. But the Academy meets this with creativity: interactive games like Kahoot, collaborative tools like Padlet, and resources sent digitally to work with. It creates its own resources, tailored to the needs of its learners. Teaching is spread among Angela Nash (who is the CFA East of England Network Coordinator), Lisa Hay (CSCP) and Grace Connolly Linden (City of London School for Girls). Alastair Harden teaches the AS level course, administered by Ottilie Cheetham (CFA London).
As well as meeting the students and teachers themselves, Charlotte Cane also visited the cast gallery and had a whistle-stop tour of the exhibits, guided by Professor Carrie Vout of the Classics Faculty.
More Than a School
At its heart, the Cambridge Greek Academy is about connection. Students of all ages come together, not just to study, but to share stories, support each other and celebrate the classics. A similar Academy also exists in Liverpool, again supported by Classics for All, but it meets in person rather than online in Liverpool College, a local school.
For further information about the Greek Academy, see https://www.classicsforalleast.org.uk/greek-academy.
