The Iris Project - Classics in Communities

Classics in Communities

The University of Oxford, the Iris Project, and Swansea University are delighted to announce an exciting new project which will promote the option of teaching Latin or Greek to primary schools throughout the UK. The project has been set up in response to the primary curriculum reforms being implemented in England in 2014, and will particularly target schools from deprived areas.

Detailed information about various events will be distributed via the traditional means (Classicist list, Classics Library, JACT, Facebook, and Twitter); however, in the meantime, we would like to share the outline of the project, and invite anyone interested in getting involved (in whatever way) to get in touch (email address below).

The opening conference of the project (‘Classics in Communities: Theories and Practices to develop Classics Outreach in the 21st Century’) will take place at Corpus Christi College (University of Oxford) on the 30th November. The keynote speakers are Prof. Edith Hall (King’s College London) and Dr Michael Scott (University of Warwick).

Eight workshops will be given at HE institutions around the UK (by people who work on Latin and Greek teaching, including

  • Barbara Bell [Minimus]
  • Dr Lorna Robinson (The Iris Project)
  • Dr Evelien Bracke (Swansea University)
  • Dr Aisha Khan-Evans (King’s College London)
  • Steve Hunt (University of Cambridge)

The workshops will offer information about approaches, resources, and support (morning sessions), and practical sessions (afternoon). The workshops will aim to bring together primary, secondary, and HE level teachers and allow for sustainable links to be created and developed.

The second phase will begin in July 2014 and focus on providing practical ongoing support for schools which decide to teach Latin or Greek:

  • resources will be shared via the JACT website
  • pre-arranged video meetings and workshops will be set up
  • mentoring will be available
  • we will also test the impact of the language teaching on the pupils’ literacy skills and global awareness

The two-year project will end with a conference bringing together the findings from the project, and discussing how the project might move beyond the first year of the curriculum reforms.

We are already very grateful to Classics for All, SSAT, and Routes into Languages, for the advice and support they have provided in setting up the project. The Faculty of Classics (University of Oxford) has kindly provided funding to get the project off the ground, a further fundraising event is planned.

Anyone who wishes to get in touch can do so via our Facebook account (search ‘Classics in Communities’), Twitter (@ClassicsinCommunity), or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Iris Project
24 Green Ridges
Headington
Oxford
OX3 8PL

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.