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Memorandum submitted by Dr Bill Allan, University College, Oxford on behalf of the Faculty of Classics, University of Oxford
This submission concerns the availability of teacher training places for Classics (covering Latin, Greek, Ancient History, and Classical Civilization).
It addresses the following points:
· The sparse availability of Classics in the state sector, which creates a "suppressed shortage" of Classics posts. · The potential for growth in Classics within the state sector. · The possibility of creating 20 new PGCE places at the Department of Education in Oxford, with support from the TDA.
1. The Present Situation
Schools Number of UK schools which currently have classics staff: STATE SECTOR: c. 450 comprehensives and grammars INDEPENDENT SECTOR: c. 600 independent schools
PGCE Cambridge has 15 places per year for the Classics PGCE course, KCL has 13, and competition for the places is very strong: last year (2008-9) KCL had 70 applicants (of whom 59 were interviewed).
Classics jobs advertized (September 2008 to early February 2009) 74 altogether (61 full-time) including 12 state (6 comprehensive, 6 grammar)
There are in general many more jobs advertized each year than there are PGCE-trained teachers. Only 28 new teachers are trained each year, while around 60 leave the profession. Fewer than 15% of state schools teach Latin and the number of qualified teachers is falling. In 1988, 16,023 students were entered for GCSE Latin, with 53% from state schools. However, since 2000 only around 10,000 pupils annually have entered for GCSE Latin, with only 37% from the state sector.
2. Potential for growth in the state sector
(i) Gifted and Talented Programmes: since every secondary school in the country is required to provide activities for its most outstanding pupils, this could be a good way to promote Classics. It would help to demystify Classics and, if successful with pupils (e.g. by improving their performance in English and other modern languages), would encourage Head Teachers to employ a full-time Classics teacher.
(ii) Diplomas: it was recently reported in the press that the Department for Education is considering adding Latin to the new Languages diploma, which is planned to run alongside GCSEs and A-levels from next year.
(iii) Specialist Language Schools: more of these could offer Classics, if there were a sufficient number of trained Classics teachers available.
3. The Department of Education, University of Oxford
At a meeting with the Director, Prof John Furlong, on 16th February 2009, it emerged that the Department of Education would be prepared to take on the Classics PGCE again, if the TDA were willing to fund c. 20 teacher training places in the subject.
4. Suggestions for further inquiry
· Ask the TDA if it will fund additional teacher training places in Classics. · Lobby the Government to increase access to Classics in the state sector. Most children have no opportunity to study these subjects, despite their proven educational value.
February 2009 |