Our passion here at “Nonne delectamini?” for all things ancient has meant that we, along with many, many others, are perplexed by the exclusion of Classical Civilisation GCSEs from the list of subjects approved for the English Baccalaureate.
Last summer, Classical Cilivisation GCSEs were the only Classics-related courses to experience a downturn (Latin, Greek and Ancient History all increased in their uptake). If we are to arrest this decline in the subject, then we must do everything we can to promote the subject, highlight its myriad qualities and have it accepted as a subject worthy of inclusion in the English Baccalaureate.
To this end, the first step (of many!) in our campaign was to submit the above letter to The Sunday Times drawing attention to the subject’s role in enlightening our young people and to the breadth of support it has both within academia and beyond.
You can see the full letter with the full list of all 135 signatories (including such names as Paul Cartledge, Michael Scott, Bettany Hughes, Edith Hall, Lorna Robinson, Paul Jones, Tim Whitmarsh) on our LETTER TO THE TIMES page.
The fight has only just begun! Together, we can make a difference!