North-West England Joanne McNamara

I have loved Classics since I was at school, enjoyed studying it to PhD level at The University of Manchester, and spent the last 18 years teaching Classics in both the independent and state sectors. I also lead the PGCE in Latin with Classics at Liverpool Hope University, and sit on the Classical Association's Teaching Board. 

I am now so proud to work for Classics for All and thoroughly enjoy looking after our schools in the NW region, a large network encompassing Merseyside and the Wirral, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria. 

Do please get in touch if I can help you at all.

My Classics journey began in Atlanta, Georgia, where I studied Latin as a high school student and fell in love with the ancient world. My studies have taken me all over the US and Canada to Master's and PhD levels and now to Durham in the North East of England, where I have worked at the university as well as teach part-time in a secondary school. I have coordinated the teaching of Classics in state schools since January 2023 and have enjoyed helping the network of primary and secondary schools in my NE network grow, from Scotch Corner all the way to Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Please get in touch if there's anything I can do to help with the Classics provision at your school.

The Blackpool & Fylde network was established in 2016 by Peter Wright, Head of Classics at Blackpool Sixth Form College (and Times Education Supplement's `Further Education Teacher of the Year’ in 2015!). Pete currently has an astonishing 120 pupils studying ancient history at A level and over 30 pupils have gone on to study classics at Russell Group universities from the college since the network was established. Over the past eight years, he has inspired other local state primary and secondary schools with no previous experience to take up Classics, helping to improve pupils’ literacy, aspirations and understanding of modern foreign languages.

I completed my PhD in Ancient Tragedy in 2018 and taught at the Universities of Manchester and Leeds.  I have taught Latin from KS3-5 and Classical Civilization from KS4-5 as Subject Lead, offering Greek as an extra-curricular club. I also present on the YouTube channel Millennial Classicist, offering videos to support Latin GCSE and Classical Civilisation A-Level.

I am excited to rejoin the Classics for All team to support schools in my region to develop literacy initiatives, increase cultural capital and broaden their curriculum to enthuse students. 

Get in touch if you want support to offer Classical subjects in your school, whatever stage you are at with the subject.