Options and Advice

Broadly, your options include: 

• Start-up sessions:  Setting up an after school Classics or Latin club to stimulate pupils’ interest with a view to making Classics part of the mainstream curriculum in the longer term. 

• Introducing Latin or Greek on the curriculum.  Primary schools can introduce Latin or Greek as their main foreign language following training for teachers. Many secondary schools begin by integrating some Latin on the curriculum at Key Stage 3 to build up interest before introducing a GCSE option. 

• Developing Classics across the curriculum: Many schools integrate aspects of the Classics in other subject areas such as English, History or Modern Foreign Languages lessons.

• Developing existing Classics provision: Some schools request our support to extend Classics for example by introducing classical civilisation or ancient history in addition to Latin. 

In primary schools, the introduction of Classics tends to be most popular at Key Stage 2. However, many schools are keen to introduce some Classics teaching in their Key Stage 1 curriculum as well. For example, at Whitchurch Primary School in North London, Latin is taught to Year 2 pupils using the Maximum Classics course. Pupils in Key Stage 2 then continue with Latin in Years 3-6 and some classes also study Greek through Mega Greek. 

All the major resources listed for Key Stage 2 can be adapted for use with younger pupils. To complement the Minimus course, there is also a book available, Minimusculus, which introduces 3-7 year olds to some basic Latin. 

For specific advice about introducing younger pupils to classics, please email [email protected]

Now that Latin and Ancient Greek can be taught as part of the Key Stage 2 Primary Languages curriculum, many primary schools are choosing to adopt one of these ancient languages as their main language of study in Years 3-6, or as a secondary language to complement the study of French or Spanish. 

Primary schools can also use a range of different resources to enhance pupils’ study of the Greeks and Romans as part of the Key Stage 2 history curriculum and to support the teaching of literacy for pupils of all abilities.

For those interested in introducing classics at Key Stage 2, visit our Resources Hub for more information. Free training can be provided for all courses listed. Please email [email protected] for more information or Apply for support now. 

At Key Stage 3, there are a number of different ways to introduce the study of the ancient world into the school curriculum. We work closely with school leadership teams and class teachers to design pathways of study that are tailored to the context and to the needs of each school.

Examples of how classics can be introduced at Key Stage 3 include:

• Studying a classical text/s (e.g. The Odyssey, Antigone or a selection of classical myths) in translation as part of the Key Stage 3 English curriculum

• Incorporating units of work on ancient history into the Key Stage 3 history curriculum

• Embedding a unit on ‘Latin for Literacy’ into the Year 7 English curriculum, using Latin as a vehicle through which to highlight key points of English grammar and syntax.

• Adding a term of Latin or Ancient Greek to a Key Stage 3 Languages carousel, ensuring that all pupils have the opportunity to engage with ancient languages

• Introducing Latin as a stand-alone subject on the curriculum for all pupils in Years 7 & 8 

• Using classical myths to ignite curiosity, develop ‘science capital’ and deepen understanding key scientific concepts at Key Stage 3

For those interested in introducing or developing the study of classics at Key Stage 3, we provide ongoing support and advice. A comprehensive list of Key Stage 3 resources can be found here; free training can be provided for all courses listed and we can create bespoke programmes of study for individual schools.

Please email [email protected] for more information or Apply for support now. 

In England and Wales, four separate classical subjects are available for study at GCSE level:

• Latin (OCR or Eduqas), 

• Ancient Greek (OCR)

• Ancient History (OCR)

• Classical Civilisation (OCR).

A number of other qualifications are also available:

OCR Entry Level Latin: designed so that it can be co-taught alongside the GCSE (9-1) qualification. This qualification involves 100% internally-assessed tasks and tests. Many teachers choose Entry Level certificates for their students as a preparatory course in year 9, or as a stepping stone throughout years 9–11 to support their Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 learning.

WJEC Level 1 certificates in Latin Language or Latin Language and Roman Civilisation: these courses encourage the development of a range of skills related to the study of Latin language and, where desired, Roman civilisation. They provide learners with a flexible and motivating course of study which can be used as 'stepping stones', or as a complete alternative to GCSE. (Please note that the Level 2 certificates have now been withdrawn).

The introduction of Classics at Key Stage 4 tends to be most successful when it builds on a firm foundation of classics at Key Stage 3. For example, we recommend that Latin is either part of the curriculum at Key Stage 3 or as an extra-curricular club before starting it as an option at Key Stage 4. Although classical civilisation and ancient history are often taken from scratch at Key Stage 4, the more opportunities students have to learn about the classical world in Key Stage 3, the more likely they are to opt for these subjects in Key Stage 4.

While it is possible for students to achieve a GCSE in Latin or Ancient Greek after only two years of study, in most schools this is not a realistic time frame. We recommend allocating at least three years (if not more) of regular teaching for those students who are working towards GCSE level classical languages from scratch. 

In England and Wales, four separate classical subjects are available for study at A and AS Level:

• Latin (OCR)

• Ancient Greek (OCR)

• Ancient History (OCR)

• Classical Civilisation (OCR).

We can provide free training and support for any teachers wishing to introduce classical subjects at Key Stage 5.

While the language courses follow directly on from their GCSE counterparts, students with no prior qualifications in classics can still study for A Levels in ancient history and classical civilisation. The Advocating Classics Education project has produced a useful set of resources for students interested in ancient history and classical civilisation as an A/AS Level option.

Aside from formal qualifications, there are many fantastic enrichment opportunities and activities open to all students in Years 12-13 (regardless of course choice). For example, students who are not studying classical subjects may still choose to complete the Olympus Challenge or work towards one of EMACT’s certificates in Ancient Greek.

A detailed bank of resources for use at Key Stage 5 (both on the curriculum and on an extra-curricular basis) can be found here.

Classics for All's new Resources Hub is intended to be a reliable source for high-quality, curated resources that support the teaching of classical subjects across all key stages.

Access to the Resources Hub is free for all teachers but you will be required to create an account when you first sign up. You will then be issued with a username and password to log into the site. 

Login to the Resources Hub here

The resources on the platform are recommended by Classics for All. Many have been directly commissioned by the charity or produced by teachers or academic staff in our partner schools or universities. For each Key Stage, you will also find a list of recommended external resources and websites. 

The Resources Hub is currently populated with material for Key Stages 2 and 3. Content for Key Stages 4 and 5 will be coming soon but, in the meantime, you may wish to visit the Warwick Classics Network website for more resources specific to Classics at KS4-5. 

We can provide free training for all the courses and resources listed on the Resources Hub. For further information about this free training or for advice about resources, please email [email protected] or contact the coordinator of your local regional network.