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 led 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 to find out what Classics can do for you and your pupils.

My journey in Classics has taken me from studying at Oxford and UCL to teaching and researching at universities in Durham, Dublin, and Newcastle. Alongside my university teaching, I have been actively involved in school outreach and widening-participation projects, helping to introduce Latin, Ancient Greek, and the wider classical world to young people.

As the Classics for All North East Regional Coordinator, I am particularly keen to help our network of primary and secondary schools grow, encouraging more schools across the region to discover the benefits of teaching and studying Classics. I'm passionate about making Classics accessible to all pupils, regardless of their background or previous opportunities to study the ancient world.

Please do get in touch if there is anything I can do to help introduce or develop 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.