In this final episode, Katrina talks to Leo, Alice and Aimee about how Oxford has nurtured their passion for the ancient world, what connects Lizzo to Classics, and how understanding the past can be a force for good. When making Regional Classics, the diversity of stories and voices we heard was simply too great to fit into a limited number of regional boxes. So, in this final episode we offer you a sample of perspectives from beyond the geographical areas covered so far, to show that no matter where you come from, no matter what your educational background, Classics is a subject that offers a uniquely stimulating set of opportunities and challenges, and that Oxford provides a uniquely stimulating environment in which to make the most of these fantastic opportunities. Katrina talks to three students from different parts of the British Isles about how they fell in love with the ancient world, how Oxford has nurtured this passion and how Classics can be a force for good. Leo chats about home-education, Lizzo, and Kae Tempest; Alice shares her story growing up on the Isle of Man; and Aimee gives us her perspective on Classics and its enduring relevance for us all.

Contributors:

Aimee Cousins (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-leigh-cousins-2250ab1b5/)

Aimee Cousins is a second year undergraduate studying Classics (Course IIB) at Magdalen College. She was previously educated at a state comprehensive school in Kings Lynn in West Norfolk. When she isn’t pouring over one of Euripides’ tragedies she’s bound to be in one of Oxford’s many coffee shops enjoying a good gossip with her friends. Having come from a disadvantaged background herself, she hopes to encourage students with similar experiences to apply to Oxford and to help make it a more inclusive and diverse place to study and live.

Leo Kershaw (https://www.oocdtp.ac.uk/people/leo-kershaw)

Leo Kershaw is a DPhil student reading for a PhD in Classical Languages and Literature at Balliol College. He previously completed a BA in Classics (Course IIB) at Lady Margaret Hall (2016-2020) and an MSt in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature at Balliol College (2020-2021). Prior to university, he was home educated in Hertfordshire up to IGCSE before attending a state sixth form, Woodhouse College, in North London. His research focuses on decolonial approaches to non-canonical receptions of Greek Tragedy, especially Euripides’ Medea as performed in South Africa since 1800.

Alice Main (https://lincoln.ox.ac.uk/people/alice-main)

Alice Main studies Classical Archaeology and Ancient History (CAAH) at Lincoln College. She lives on the Isle of Man and was educated at a state comprehensive school. When not studying she enjoys trips to the Ashmolean, walking and spending time with friends.

Katrina Kelly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-kelly-3925a216b/)

Katrina Kelly, the host of this podcast, studied Classics (Course IA) at Magdalen College from 2015-19 after being home-educated in Lytham St Annes on the Lancashire coast. Now a researcher at the Faculty, she hopes to help make Oxford Classics an ever more accessible, inclusive and exciting place to study and work. Katrina is also the Education Co-ordinator and Branches Officer for the Classical Association.

Things we mention:

UNIQ - https://www.uniq.ox.ac.uk/

Classics at Oxford - https://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/outreach

This episode features Boudica, a tortoise, Pegasus and Chris Martin, and that’s before we meet our panellists! Listen to Ellie’s experiences studying on both sides of the border, learn more about Roman funerary monuments, Lewys’ favourite parts of his Classical Archaeology and Ancient History course, how Reem nearly became a doctor, her passion for journalism, and what advice our undergraduates would give to Welsh students.

Contributors

Reem Ahmed (https://www.linkedin.com/in/reem-ahmed-030039157/) – Reem studied Classics (Course IB) at Christ Church from 2016-20. She grew up in Cardiff and fell in love with Latin at school. Having not studied Greek or the Greek world before coming to university, one of her favourite aspects of her degree was learning about Hellenistic poetry, art and archaeology. Outside of her studies, she could be found writing and editing for student publications. She also enjoyed teaching Latin and Greek community classes based in a local school in Oxford. She's now a trainee reporter for WalesOnline based in Cardiff. One day she hopes to do a Masters in Classics and go into teaching.

Lewys Griffiths (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewys-griffiths-452a60167/) studied Classical Archaeology & Ancient History (CAAH) at St John’s College from 2018-2021, having previously studied at a Welsh Language Comprehensive School called Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni. He is originally from a small village called Groeswen in South Wales. Outside of studying the Roman side of Classics, he enjoys travelling to Italy and walking his dog. Following his degree, he is undertaking training to become a commercial solicitor at the London office of a US Law firm.

Ellie Williams studies Classics and English (Course IIB) at Regent’s Park College, having previously studied at Hereford Sixth Form College and John Beddoes Campus. She is the first in her family to go to university. When she’s not translating Latin texts, she enjoys going on long walks around Oxford which is very different to walking back home in Mid-Wales.

Katrina Kelly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-kelly-3925a216b/), the host of this podcast, studied Classics (Course IA) at Magdalen College from 2015-19 after being home-educated in Lytham St Annes on the Lancashire coast. Now a researcher at the Faculty, she hopes to help make Oxford Classics an ever more accessible, inclusive and exciting place to study and work. Katrina is also the Education Co-ordinator and Branches Officer for the Classical Association.

* Things we mention:

The Iris Project (http://irisproject.org.uk/index.php)

The Oxford Welsh Society (https://www.facebook.com/groups/cymdeithasdafyddapgwilym/))

UNIQ (https://www.uniq.ox.ac.uk/)

Oxford Pathways (https://www.pathways.ox.ac.uk/)

Manny the Tortoise (https://www.rpc.ox.ac.uk/about-regents/history/emmanuelle/)

* How can I get involved?

Oxford For Wales - https://www.ox.ac.uk/oxfordcymru (in English) or https://www.ox.ac.uk/rhydychen-cymru (in Welsh).

Welsh Classics network (https://classicsforall.org.uk/what-we-do/our-networks/welsh-classics-network)

Find a Classical Association branch near you (https://classicalassociation.org/branches/)

* Link Colleges:

Jesus College (https://www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/access-outreach/)

New College (https://www.new.ox.ac.uk/working-schools; https://www.new.ox.ac.uk/oxfordforwales)

St Catherine’s College (https://www.stcatz.ox.ac.uk/prospective-students/outreach/)

In this episode, we discuss Classics and employability, the tremendous breadth of the discipline, the thrill of philosophy, and how you can discover what fascinates you. We find out how Amy got hooked on Plato (having first applied to study physics!), who inspired Llewelyn to study Classics, Cristina’s early Olympic experience, and how social, educational, economic and cultural differences intersect to form such a fascinating backdrop to everybody’s unique Classics journey.

(Please excuse Llewelyn tapping the desk a few times – he’s just so enthusiastic about his subject!)

Cristina Chui (https://www.merton.ox.ac.uk/our-work-with-schools/student-ambassadors/cristina-chui) is a Classics (Course IA) undergraduate at Merton College, originally from Newcastle upon Tyne. She is passionate about making Classics accessible and enjoyable and has striven to do this in her capacity as a student ambassador for her college and by setting up two social media ventures: Cristina’s Classics Corner and Merton Classics Access. In her spare time, she does photography and volunteering, or you can find her watching lots of Korean dramas!

Professor Llewelyn Morgan (https://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/about-brasenose/academic-staff/341-dr-llewelyn-morgan) was an undergraduate almost too long ago to remember, but around 1986 to 1990, after growing up in St Helens, Merseyside. He works mainly on Roman poetry and is looking forward to visiting more schools and colleges to explain why Classics is by far the most interesting degree available.

Amy Thompson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-thompson-553a1078/?originalSubdomain=uk) read Classics at St. Anne's College between 2015 and 2019, during which time she picked up Greek from scratch before completing a BPhil in Philosophy. Outside of Classics, she can usually be found in a theatre – preferably backstage with a clipboard in hand, though sometimes also in the audience.

Katrina Kelly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-kelly-3925a216b/), the host of this podcast, studied Classics (Course IA) at Magdalen College from 2015-19 after being home-educated in Lytham St Annes on the Lancashire coast. Now a researcher at the Faculty, she hopes to help make Oxford Classics an ever more accessible, inclusive and exciting place to study and work. Katrina is also the Education Co-ordinator and Branches Officer for the Classical Association.

How can I get involved?

Oxford for North East (https://www.ox.ac.uk/oxfordforNE)

Oxford for North West (https://www.ox.ac.uk/oxfordfornw)

Oxford for Yorkshire and the Humber (https://www.ox.ac.uk/oxfordforYH)

Find a Classical Association branch (https://classicalassociation.org/branches/) or Classics For All hub (https://classicsforallnorth.org.uk/about-us-1) near you

Link colleges for the North East:

Christ Church College (https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/admissions/schools-and-outreach)

St Anne's College (https://www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate/working-with-schools/)

Trinity College (https://www.trinity.ox.ac.uk/schools-outreach)

Lincoln College – Classical Archaeology and Ancient History only (https://lincoln.ox.ac.uk/study-here/working-with-schools)

Link colleges for the North West:

Corpus Christi College (https://www.ccc.ox.ac.uk/schools-and-outreach/regional-outreach)

Pembroke College – doesn’t offer Classical subjects (https://www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/access-and-outreach)

The Queen's College (https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/schools-outreach)

St Peter's College – doesn’t offer Classical subjects (https://www.spc.ox.ac.uk/increasing-access)

Link Colleges for Yorkshire and the Humber:

Brasenose College (https://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/prospective-students/schools-liaison)

Magdalen College (https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/studying-here/outreach/next-steps-south-yorkshire/)

Mansfield College – doesn’t offer Classical subjects (https://www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges-liaison)

Worcester College (https://www.worc.ox.ac.uk/applying/access-and-outreach/regional-outreach)

In this episode, we talk about coming to Classics without any ancient languages; Bertie’s first love and how Classics took her into the world of Facebook… Alexander’s passion for history; Ellie’s research into Ancient Nubia; Classics outreach; and how the Midlands ISN’T the North!

Contributors

Alexander Moore (https://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/people/undefined-2) is currently a DPhil Ancient History student at Lady Margaret Hall. Originating from Burton-on-Trent in the Midlands, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Liverpool and Masters at the University of Birmingham before starting his DPhil at Oxford in 2020. His research focuses on the reported political, social, and military influence of Julius Caesar's veterans during the various and successive civil conflicts of the Late Roman Republic. He is eager to encourage anyone to engage with, and benefit from, the study of the ancient world.

Eleanor Newman (https://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/people/eleanor-newman) has been studying Classics related subjects since 2016 when she started her undergraduate degree at the University of Nottingham. She is currently studying for a DPhil in Classical Archaeology, which will focus on the intersection of race and gender in Hellenistic terracottas in an attempt to counteract the modern whitewashing of life in the ancient Mediterranean. In her spare time, Ellie can be found in her hometown of Nuneaton baking, pub quizzing, and hanging out with her pets.

Roberta Thomson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberta-thomson-4619225/) is an experienced communications leader with a background in finance who has worked in London, New York, Dallas and Silicon Valley. She currently leads Facebook's Product Communications team, which tells the story of how Facebook’s products improve people’s lives. For five years previously she led Facebook’s Corporate Communications team, including financial and media relations, creative, internal and data communications. Previously Roberta spent over seven years at critical issues and corporate relations agency Brunswick Group, where she advised on media relations, crisis and issues management, and over $150bn of M&A transactions. Roberta started her professional life as a chartered accountant with Deloitte in London, where she worked with clients across sectors on both statutory audits and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Prior to that she read Classics at Oxford, and spent her teenage years singing in a rock band.

Katrina Kelly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-kelly-3925a216b/), the host of this podcast, studied Classics (Course IA) at Magdalen College from 2015-19 after being home-educated in Lytham St Annes on the Lancashire coast. Now a researcher at the Faculty, she hopes to help make Oxford Classics an ever more accessible, inclusive and exciting place to study and work. Katrina is also the Education Co-ordinator and Branches Officer for the Classical Association.

Things we mention

Oxford Classics outreach - https://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/outreach

Classical Conversations - https://clasoutreach.web.ox.ac.uk/classical-conversations

How can I get involved?

Oxford for West Midlands - https://www.ox.ac.uk/oxfordforWM

Oxford for East Midlands - https://www.ox.ac.uk/oxfordforEM

Birmingham and West Midlands Classics Network - https://classicsforall.org.uk/what-we-do/our-networks/birmingham-and-west-midlands-classics-network

University of Leicester and East Midlands Classics Network - https://classicsforall.org.uk/what-we-do/our-networks/university-leicester-and-east-midlands-classics-network

The East Midlands Association of Classical Teachers - https://emact.wordpress.com/

Find a Classical Association branch near you - https://classicalassociation.org/branches/

Link Colleges

Lincoln College – Classical Archaeology and Ancient History only - https://lincoln.ox.ac.uk/study-here/working-with-schools

Magdalen College - https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/studying-here/outreach/

St Edmund Hall – no Classics at undergraduate level - https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/news/outreach

Keble College – Classical Archaeology and Ancient History only - https://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduates/outreach/

Oriel College - https://www.oriel.ox.ac.uk/study-us/schools-liaison/about-outreach-oriel

University College - https://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/applying-to-univ/outreach/

In this episode, we discover what links Virgil to Devon, why Classics is relevant today, Justin’s love for languages, which transferable skills Classics gives you, and why, in Molly’s view, Classics and English is the best degree available in Oxford! Contributors

Dr Rebecca Armstrong (https://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/content/dr-rebecca-m-armstrong) grew up in North Devon and first came to Oxford to study Classics at Balliol College. She took up her current post at St Hilda’s in 2004. Her main research interests nowadays centre around ancient literary responses to the natural world, especially plants. Her students nobly tolerate her tendency to talk at length about beech trees.

Molly Gibson-Mee studied for a BA in Classics and English (Course II) and an MSt in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at Oriel College from 2015-20. Molly grew up in rural Devon and attended a state comprehensive school there before discovering Classics at an FE College. She is a successful YouTuber (https://www.youtube.com/user/readingismycupoftea) and currently works for Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge.

Justin Vyvyan-Jones (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-vyvyan-jones-9079761b3/?originalSubdomain=uk) followed his love for language and story from village state schools through to studying BA Classics (IIA) and German at St Hugh's College. Firmly rooted in the West Country, and proud of his roots in village primaries, rural state-comp, and state sixth-form college, he's seen how valuable committed teaching and effective outreach are to transforming young people's prospects, and how easy it is for negative stereotypes to deter them from giving Oxford a shot. Having thrown himself into the rich student life at Oxford, he's now gearing up for a year abroad in Germany, where he's been offered a placement translating medieval texts into English. Justin firmly believes in being an ambassador for inclusivity and accessibility in Oxford and beyond.

Katrina Kelly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-kelly-3925a216b/), the host of this podcast, studied Classics (Course IA) at Magdalen College from 2015-19 after being home-educated in Lytham St Annes on the Lancashire coast. Now a researcher at the Faculty, she hopes to help make Oxford Classics an ever more accessible, inclusive and exciting place to study and work. Katrina is also the Education Co-ordinator and Branches Officer for the Classical Association.

Things we mention

Classical Reception – the study of how the ancient world has been received since antiquity

APGRD (http://www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk/) – Oxford’s Archive for the Performance of Greek and Roman Drama

Alice Oswald’s ‘Dart’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dart_(poetry_collection)

How can I get involved?

Oxford For South West (https://www.ox.ac.uk/oxfordforSW)

Bristol Classics For All hub (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/classics/hub/)

Find a Classical Association branch near you (https://classicalassociation.org/branches/)

Link colleges

Exeter College (https://www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/applicants/undergraduates/visit/outreach/)

Lady Margaret Hall (https://www.lmh.ox.ac.uk/prospective-students/working-schools)

Merton College (https://www.merton.ox.ac.uk/our-work-with-schools)

We talk about the Classics Admissions Test, growing up in Fife, Jess’ work with the Clydeside Project, things that get into a ‘fankle’ (Arlene explains all!), and how we’d love for more teachers to teach Classics in Scotland! Contributors

Professor Bill Allan grew up in Bowhill, a former coal-mining village in Fife, Scotland. Thanks to the dedication and support of teachers at Denend Primary School and Glenrothes High School, he became the first person in his family to attend University. He studied Classics and Gaelic at Edinburgh University and taught at Harvard University before coming to University College Oxford. He is particularly interested in the literature and intellectual history of archaic and classical Greece.

Jessica Curry studies Classics (Course 1B) at St. Hugh's College and is currently in her final year. Previous to this she studied at St. Columba's School in Inverclyde where she first fell in love with all things Classical via the Percy Jackson novels. A past committee member of the Oxford University Classics Society, she started rowing as a beginner in Fresher's Week and has volunteered with the Clydeside Project, a student organization that gives support and mentoring to Scottish Oxbridge applicants.

Originally from Lanarkshire, Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson studied Classics (1B) at St. Hilda’s College Oxford before completing further degrees at Harvard, Cambridge and Glasgow. A qualified school teacher, she taught Latin, Greek and Classical Studies to teenagers full-time while completing her doctorate in Classics education part-time. Since 2014, she has led the Classics in Communities project at the University of Oxford which investigates what impact the study of Classical languages has on children’s cognitive development. Arlene is an expert on the role of Classics in the curriculum and assessment systems of both Scotland and England and, in her role as OPEN Policy Leader, she acts as an advisor to both governments on education.

Katrina Kelly, the host of this podcast, studied Classics (Course IA) at Magdalen College from 2015-19 after being home-educated in Lytham St Annes on the Lancashire coast. Now a researcher at the Faculty, she hopes to help make Oxford Classics an ever more accessible, inclusive and exciting place to study and work. Katrina is also the Education Co-ordinator and Branches Officer for the Classical Association.

Things we mention:

Ecce Romani https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/EcceRomani

A textbook feat. Cornelia, Flavia and Marcus!

PGDE - the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education, a teaching qualification

Moray House, Edinburgh - https://www.ed.ac.uk/education

Univ https://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/ (short for University College)

Course 2 https://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/classics#/ is for those students coming to study Classics at Oxford who haven’t already taken qualifications in the Latin or Greek languages

The Val McDermid Oxford Podcast https://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/article/val-mcdermid-st-hildas-1972

‘Greats’ – https://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/paper-descriptions-finals-greats#/ Part 2 (Years 3 and 4) of the Oxford Classics course

Read more:

Classical Studies in Scotland - https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45755.html

Curriculum For Excellence - https://education.gov.scot/education-scotland/scottish-education-system/policy-for-scottish-education/policy-drivers/cfe-building-from-the-statement-appendix-incl-btc1-5/what-is-curriculum-for-excellence

SCILT https://scilt.org.uk/ - Scotland’s National Centre for Languages

A 1 + 2 languages policy - https://education.gov.scot/improvement/learning-resources/a-1-plus-2-approach-to-modern-languages/

Classics in Scottish Schools article (2020) - https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/4AF25DFA90DE6D5E266A8B9E6B5262BB/S2058631020000495a.pdf/div-class-title-the-coronavirus-pandemic-exams-crisis-and-classics-in-scottish-schools-div.pdf

How can I get involved?

Oxford for Scotland - https://www.ox.ac.uk/oxfordforScotland

The Classical Association of Scotland https://cas.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/ and their schools network https://classicsforall.org.uk/what-we-do/our-networks/classical-association-scotland-schools-network-casn

The Clydeside Project - https://www.clydesideproject.org/

The Oxford Scottish Society - https://www.facebook.com/oxfordscotsoc/

We talk about what ‘Classics’ really means and its place in the 21st century; we discuss Greek vases, ‘Irish modesty’, provincial art, the Sogdians; and we highlight the particular barriers that Northern Irish students may face, and how to overcome them! Also, we discover which literature (both modern and ancient) Sarah recommends, how many ancient languages Jenyth is studying, and whether Peter thinks Classics needs to be made more appealing!

Dr Sarah Cullinan Herring read for a BA and an MSt in Classics at Oriel College, and a DPhil at University College which she completed in 2012. She was a lecturer in Ancient Greek literature at Balliol and Trinity Colleges before moving to Winchester College where she was Head of Classics for several years, during which time she became a qualified teacher. Her research interests are in epic and Greek lyric poetry. She is currently preparing a book for publication by OUP entitled The Mirror and the Lyre: song performance and poetic authority in Greek literature.

Jenyth Evans, having never had the opportunity to study Classics or ancient languages at school, came from Northern Ireland in 2015 to study Classics for her undergraduate degree at Jesus College, Oxford. During that time, she picked up Greek, Latin and Irish, and studied the reception of Vergil in medieval Ireland for her dissertation. She enjoyed studying the medieval period so much she stayed on for a Masters in Medieval Studies at Jesus College, learning Welsh through the course and graduating in 2020. Jenyth is now studying for a doctorate at St Edmund Hall, researching pseudo-histories - that is, histories largely or wholly made up by medieval authors - which were written in medieval Ireland, England, and Wales.

Professor Peter Stewart was born and brought up in Belfast, before reading Classics at Cambridge University. He taught at Cambridge and Reading universities, and at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, before moving to Oxford in 2011. He is a specialist in Roman art with a particular interest in the relationship between art traditions in different parts of the ancient world.

Katrina Kelly, the host of this podcast, studied Classics (Course IA) at Magdalen College from 2015-19 after being home-educated in Lytham St Annes on the Lancashire coast. Now a researcher at the Faculty, she hopes to help make Oxford Classics an ever more accessible, inclusive and exciting place to study and work. Katrina is also the Education Co-ordinator and Branches Officer for the Classical Association.

Things we mention

UNIQ Summer School

The Language Trends Survey for Northern Ireland 2021

‘Mods’ – Honour Moderations are the exams taken by Classics Course I students after five terms

How can I get involved?

Oxford For Northern Ireland

The Classical Association in Northern Ireland

Find a Link College (Each Oxford college is linked to a number of local authorities and each school is given a named contact within the University):

Exeter College

St Catherine’s College (although St Catz doesn’t offer Classical subjects)