We are an initiative to promote the study of Classics and support students who are studying Latin. We aim to allow greater accessibility to a wider range of students.
What we are all about.
Our tutors are highly qualified subject specialists, former examiners of GCSE Latin and practising Classics teachers in secondary schools across London. As such, they understand how to make learning visible, they can target the key areas of linguistic difficulty with which even the more able will struggle, and can directly contribute towards success in public examinations as well as enrich the students more generally.
Sarah Merali-Smith.
Former Head of Classics at Guildford High School, Sarah currently teaches Latin, Ancient Greek & Classical Civilisation at Forest School in East London.
Support.
We are actively promoting our courses and reaching out to all organisations and individuals whom we feel might be able to support us in our endeavour to make Classics more accessible.
We thank Professor Mary Beard, Dr John Taylor, Cath Harvey, the Classical Association, the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies and the Faculty of Classics, University of Oxford for their generous support with our initiative.
Press.
We have been published in the Journal of Classics Teaching by Cambridge University Press. Article Link
We are also featured in the Hackney Gazette: “East London teachers challenge the elitism of Latin” Article Link
Directors’ Report August 2022 Article Link
Directors’ Report August 2023 Article Link
The Latin.
We offer 4 intensive formal language classes each day, by the end of which students will not only be able to comfortably understand the core linguistic grammatical detail of Latin syntactical constructions, but also be able to recognise and translate them when disguised in a GCSE Latin unseen passage. Students will leave with a considerably greater confidence in reading the language which (among other things) will directly benefit public examination performance as well as a greater alertness to a wider range of aspects of the Classical world.
At the end of each day we offer a ‘Golden Time’ session: paralinguistic sessions which are designed to immerse the class in an aspect of the ancient world, and which complement the linguistic material studied during the day. Examples of ‘Golden Time’ sessions are ‘Greek Drama’, ‘Myth in Renaissance Painting’ and ‘The Greek Nude’.
Past Guest Speakers.
Dr Andrew Fox, Institute of Classical Studies. Topic: Topographical perspective of ancient Rome
Dr Talitha Kearey, University of Cambridge. Topic: Virgil, Aeneid 6
Professor Daniel Orrells, KCL. Topic: Ovid's Narcissus and Echo, Virgil Aeneid I
Professor Fiachra Mac Góráin, UCL. Topic: The god, Dionysus
Dr Will Wootton, KCL. Topic: Making ancient mosaics
Dr Ben Kolbeck, University of Cambridge. Topic: Apuleius' sagae Thessalae
William Lawrence, Classical Talks
Professor Alison Sharrock, University of Manchester. Topic: Baucis & Philemon
Dr Olivia Elder, University of Oxford. Topic: Messalina
Laura Thomson-Turnage, London Museum
The Ancient Classical World by Peter Jones MBE
The legend that is Peter Jones is an East London Classics Summer School supporter and so a passionate advocate for making Classics accessible to all. He champions this cause through his writings and public engagements. In his recent piece, he highlights the fascinating aspects of the ancient world, emphasizing the importance of studying Classics for a deeper understanding of history, culture, and language.
The East London Classical Summer School gives every school pupil interested in the ancient world, at whatever level, a marvellous opportunity to mix with others of similar interests while at the same time exploring that fascinating world in detail with a concentration that is not possible on the school timetable. Here are some very broad generalisations about the ancient Graeco-Roman world, with a bias towards the Romans, and far too many omissions. Your teachers will be able to provide alternative views and corrections, and you can argue your heads off about them.
Click to read the rest of Peter’s article here: https://www.eastlondonclassicssummerschool.com/s/PETER-JONES-document-2024.pdf