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CERES secures £60,500 to expand classics education research
Durham’s Centre for Classics Education, Research and EngagementS (CERES) has secured £60,500 for two projects supporting the future of Classics Education across the UK.
Building the case for Greek
The Polonsky Foundation has awarded CERES £50,500 for The Case for Greek, a two-year research and advocacy project addressing the decline of ancient Greek language teaching in UK schools and communities.
Access to the subject is currently extremely limited. Just 5% of pupils taking GCSE Greek and 1% of those taking it at A-level attend state-maintained schools.
In recent years, the number of students taking A-level Ancient Greek has fallen below 200, placing the qualification in peril.
Led by Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson MBE, Professor of Classics Education and Public Policy and Founding Director of CERES, the project will examine the relationship between studying ancient Greek and developing literacy and transferable skills.
Research assistance will be provided by practising teacher Dr Jess Dixon (St Paul’s Girls’ School) who will collate evidence from the UK and internationally.
The findings will inform practical recommendations for teachers, school leaders, policymakers and national education bodies, helping to shape future conversations about curriculum and assessment policy.
Opportunities to study the ancient Greek language are too often determined by a young person’s geographical location and the type of school they attend. Thanks to the generous support of the Polonsky Foundation, we can now evaluate ‘what works’, putting us in a stronger position to make recommendations for future advocacy efforts.
The Polonsky Foundation is delighted to support Professor Holmes-Henderson’s project The Case for Greek. By building a rigorous evidence base around ancient Greek language teaching and its value to learners, the project will enhance informed discussion about the future of the subject, making an important contribution to humanities education.
Supporting Classics Education in Scotland
CERES has also received a £10,000 donation from the Uncior Trust for Frontier Classics, a research and advocacy project focusing on Classics Education in Scotland.
The project will examine current provision, identify opportunities for development, and will collaborate with key stakeholders including the Classical Association of Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, Education Scotland, Qualifications Scotland, SCILT (Scotland's National Centre for Languages), the Scottish-Hellenic Alliance and the Scottish Association of Languages Teachers.
I have long wanted to widen access to the study of the ancient world in my home nation. The Uncior Trust’s donation will transform our ability to promote Classics in Scottish schools, museums and communities.
The funding was announced during a visit to the British School at Athens, where, as a Trustee, Arlene was supporting its activities connected with ancient Greek language and culture education.
Both projects will run from 2026 to 2028, combining research, advocacy and engagement to support a more accessible and sustainable future for Classics Education.
Find out more
- Learn more about the Durham Centre for Classics Education, Research and EngagementS (CERES)
- Discover more about the work of Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson.
- Find out more about the Polonsky Foundation
Image caption: Mr. Constantinos Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Republic, with Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson, at the British School at Athens, ahead of the announcement of new funding for CERES.