The Classics Hub will give students more opportunities both at GCSE, A Level and also lower down the school and is part of the academy’s ambitious plans to expand its curriculum.   

Dr Neil Allies, Head of Languages and Cultures, and pictured above, said: “Students are increasingly interested in Classics, and I am delighted that we are now able to offer new Latin and Greek GCSEs and Ancient History A Level. Younger students will also benefit from the new Classics Hub, as we will be introducing them to Latin, Classical texts and the Ancient World through our Reading Curriculum. 

“We want to expand our students’ horizons and inspire in them a love for learning and for the classical world, by introducing them to a huge range of fascinating and fun topics including everything from gladiators to mosaics, archaeology, myths and more!”    

The school is also planning more trips to ancient sites and has this week, as part of Bridport Literary Festival hosted a talk on Ancient Greece by acclaimed author Adam Nicholson. His illustrated talk, which was attended by students and the public is entitled ‘How to Be – Life Lessons from the Early Greeks’.    

Adam Shelley, Headteacher of the Sir John Colfox Academy, said: “The launch of our new Classics Hub is part of our ambitious plans to expand our curriculum and offer our students more opportunities.  

“We were proud that improvements to our new curriculum were recently recognised by Ofsted who noted that ‘changes to the curriculum reflect the school’s ambition for its pupils to achieve more highly. Pupils are now benefiting from the improved curriculum’. Our new curriculum and our new Classics Hub will give our students even more opportunities to pursue their academic interests and develop a love for the Ancient World.”    

The new hub will also involve and benefit other secondary schools in the Initio Learning Trust, which Colfox is part of.