Improving Access to Classical Studies in Museums and Schools
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Classics
Abstract
This follow-on project seeks to improve access to the study of Classical Civilisation and Ancient History by working in partnership with Liverpool World Museum (LWM) and OCR examination board, and alongside the Museum of Classical Archaeology (MOCA) as a collaborator, to provide subject knowledge enhancement training for teachers, curriculum-linked support materials, gallery trails and workshops for teachers and students which deepen the impact of studying the ancient world and engage new audiences. Our previous AHRC-funded research 'Studying Classical Civilisation in Britain: recording the past and fostering the future' uncovered a wealth of historical evidence pointing to the educative value of Classics as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. Today, only a fraction-around 10%-of Britain's teenagers have access to the study of the Greeks and Romans at school, and the majority of these are in the independent sector. This is a problem of social justice which our research and active dissemination strategies aim to ameliorate by taking the Classical world to new audiences. Our project with MOCA focuses on the mental well-being of young people in the community and we are confident that this approach offers an inclusive pathway to engaging new audiences of teenagers, whose schools do not currently offer Classical subjects.
The current Ofsted framework examines the quality of the curriculum offered to pupils: 'inspectors will consider the extent to which schools are equipping pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life... helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement' (Ofsted 2019). This is an opportune moment for Classics to stage a comeback. Our research has identified that an efficient way to do this is via the study of the ancient world in translation. OCR's qualifications in Classical Civilisation and Ancient History can be taught by teachers who are specialists in allied subjects e.g. English, Drama, History, Philosophy or Religious Studies. Some curricular content is shared, and almost all the skills are transferable (Holmes-Henderson 2018). Yet these qualifications require promotion beyond the schools where Classics is traditionally taught. This is particularly the case in the North West of England. It is for this reason that we plan to work closely with LWM to amplify the dissemination of our original project's findings to teachers and students in schools in the north of England. There could be no better time to do this than in 2021, when LWM hosts its Classical exhibition. Holmes-Henderson visited the Lytham St. Annes Classical Association Branch in March 2020 (VE2) to judge a schools' competition and engaged with state school teachers from Bolton, Kirkton, Runshaw and Ashton-under-Lyne. These teachers requested help and support in their region, not 'always in London'.
'There is not currently enough money in state schools for textbooks, stationery and science equipment' (Weale and Adams, Guardian Article, 8th March 2019) so funding teacher professional development is a low priority for schools in times of budget cuts. Yet both the professional competency and personal morale of teachers is boosted by attending high-quality training which in turn improves student achievement in such high-stakes assessments as GCSEs and A Levels. Together with MOCA and LWM, we will provide free professional development for teachers (non-specialist, newly qualified and experienced) to ensure that our research findings reach new audiences and that they impact on learning communities around the UK. We will also improve the learning and teaching resources available for Classical Civilisation and Ancient History, by working with OCR and will make gallery guides so that prescribed objects in the British Museum are more accessible to teachers and students. Our follow-on funding proposals respond to requests from participants over the lifespan of our original project.
The current Ofsted framework examines the quality of the curriculum offered to pupils: 'inspectors will consider the extent to which schools are equipping pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life... helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement' (Ofsted 2019). This is an opportune moment for Classics to stage a comeback. Our research has identified that an efficient way to do this is via the study of the ancient world in translation. OCR's qualifications in Classical Civilisation and Ancient History can be taught by teachers who are specialists in allied subjects e.g. English, Drama, History, Philosophy or Religious Studies. Some curricular content is shared, and almost all the skills are transferable (Holmes-Henderson 2018). Yet these qualifications require promotion beyond the schools where Classics is traditionally taught. This is particularly the case in the North West of England. It is for this reason that we plan to work closely with LWM to amplify the dissemination of our original project's findings to teachers and students in schools in the north of England. There could be no better time to do this than in 2021, when LWM hosts its Classical exhibition. Holmes-Henderson visited the Lytham St. Annes Classical Association Branch in March 2020 (VE2) to judge a schools' competition and engaged with state school teachers from Bolton, Kirkton, Runshaw and Ashton-under-Lyne. These teachers requested help and support in their region, not 'always in London'.
'There is not currently enough money in state schools for textbooks, stationery and science equipment' (Weale and Adams, Guardian Article, 8th March 2019) so funding teacher professional development is a low priority for schools in times of budget cuts. Yet both the professional competency and personal morale of teachers is boosted by attending high-quality training which in turn improves student achievement in such high-stakes assessments as GCSEs and A Levels. Together with MOCA and LWM, we will provide free professional development for teachers (non-specialist, newly qualified and experienced) to ensure that our research findings reach new audiences and that they impact on learning communities around the UK. We will also improve the learning and teaching resources available for Classical Civilisation and Ancient History, by working with OCR and will make gallery guides so that prescribed objects in the British Museum are more accessible to teachers and students. Our follow-on funding proposals respond to requests from participants over the lifespan of our original project.
Description | This project has connected academic Classicists with museum educators and exam board professionals to widen access to the study of the Classical world for school pupils, teachers, museum visitors and members of the public through knowledge exchange. This project has used findings from the original research (AHRC Leadership Fellowship (2017-2019) 'Studying Classical Civilisation in Britain: Recording the Past and Fostering the Future' [AH/P007554/1]) to co-create free online materials to support teachers, enhance student learning, engage new audiences and allow our partners at OCR, the Liverpool World Museum (LWM) and the Museum of Classical Archaeology (MOCA) in Cambridge to expand Classics into new schools and communities. |
Exploitation Route | Museums, examination boards and universities can use this project as a model for successful collaborative working. We have successfully engaged teachers and teenage learners with our research findings via online and in-person events. |
Sectors | Education Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
Description | The project is ongoing but positive impacts have already been reported by teachers, policy officials, students and museum educators involved in our pilot activities. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
Description | British Museum |
Organisation | British Museum |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Academic input for the creation of educational resources |
Collaborator Contribution | Design and administrative support |
Impact | Free online Image Banks and Prescribed text resources for GCSE and A Level Classical Civilisation and Ancient History |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Collaboration with the Museum of Classical Archaeology |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Faculty of Classics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | In partnership with an external consultant, the PI, MOCA's curator and education/outreach officer developed a workshop for secondary school students which was delivered in the museum and online to boost teenage body positivity and improve access to Classical Studies. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners selected the collection's objects, photographed and filmed items for use. They also liaised with the external consultant and managed bookings for teacher and student workshops. |
Impact | Workshop for students (online): October 2021 Workshop for teachers (online): March 2022 Classics, Art, History, Biology, Mental Health, Museum Studies, Education, Relationships and Sex Education, Personal Social and Health Education |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Liverpool World Museum |
Organisation | World Museum Liverpool |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Academic input to videos and sourcebook design |
Collaborator Contribution | Curatorial expertise in selecting items for inclusion in the sourcebooks and advising on their design and dissemination |
Impact | We have co-created three interactive sourcebooks. GCSE Classical Civilisation Myth and Religion and A Level Classical Civilisation Love and Relationship and Greek Art. These include images, videos and 3-D scans of objects in the World Museum collections and in the stores. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Working with an examination board |
Organisation | OCR Examinations |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Co-I Professor Edith Hall is providing copyright-free translations of set-texts and PI Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson is collaborating with Subject Adviser Alex Orgee to create companion teaching and learning materials for the OCR A Level Classical Civilisation qualification. |
Collaborator Contribution | Advice on translation formatting, extent of notes provided and design-guide for companion materials. |
Impact | Collaboration ongoing |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Blog for the National Centre for Academic and Culture Exchange |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A number of knowledge exchange professionals contacted me after they read the blog to ask me to speak to new audiences (including museums, Humanities academics and policymakers). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://ncace.ac.uk/2022/11/07/widening-access-to-ancient-cultures-in-museums-and-schools-through-pa... |
Description | Classical Collections Network |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | I presented details of this collaborative AHRC-funded project to a national network of professionals working in the heritage sector. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
URL | https://connectingclassicalcollections.wordpress.com/ |
Description | Conference presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 'The strange story of Classics education in Scotland: a paradox of policy and practice', part of a panel at the Classical Association conference. A public consultation has since opened regarding the qualification requirements for teachers of classical subjects in Scotland (identified as a barrier to widening access to the subject). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Conference presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 'Growing Classics via innovative and inclusive pedagogies', a panel organised by me at the Classical Association conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Engaging schoolteachers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The PI gave a presentation about the project to an online 'TeachMeet' and found it a helpful way to get feedback from end-users on the content of the sourcebooks we had co-created with the World Museum Liverpool. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Inclusive Classics II Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson illustrated the range of diversely positioned stakeholders in the UK Classics community and showcased some success stories of knowledge exchange projects among these groups to date. She also identified a number of future strategic actions required to improve collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
URL | https://cucd.blogs.sas.ac.uk/files/2021/12/Inclusive-Classics-II-report.pdf |
Description | Inspiring Museum colleagues |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | The Curator at the Museum of Classical Archaeology gave a talk about the project to the Museums Association. It generated interesting discussion of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the co-creation of materials with educational audiences. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited Research Seminar at the University of Reading |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson was invited to give a research seminar on 'Collaboration in UK Classics education: reflecting on ambitions and realities' in which she talked about findings from this AHRC project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://classicalassociation.org/events/university-of-reading-seminar-arlene-holmes-henderson-on-col... |
Description | Talk for civil servants |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | 'amo, amas, amat and all that New perspectives on Classics education in the 21st century', online talk for Civil Service Classics Network |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Talk for postgraduate students: Classics in the Classroom |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 'Classics in the Classroom', a talk for students at Birmingham Research Institute of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham in November 2023. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Update on collaboration with OCR |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Prof Hall provided an update on her work to produce copyright-free translations for use by OCR. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | http://edithorial.blogspot.com/2022/09/five-new-north-eastern-classics.html |