Classics in the Curriculum

The study of the Greeks and Romans is compulsory at KS2, and qualifications are on offer at KS4 and KS5, but there is a ‘gap’ at KS3. It is difficult to persuade schools with no Classics on their curriculum to give KS3 timetable space to Classical Civilisation and Ancient History, and therefore difficult to prove that there is demand for qualifications at KS4 and KS5. Even if qualifications are on offer, recruitment can be difficult if students have no experience of these subjects in years 7 to 9. 

CSCP's Classics in the Curriculum work intends to create materials that can be used by classics teachers for Ancient History and Classical Civilisation lessons, but also by teachers of other subjects as part of their curriculum. The Phase 1 Amarantus materials are targeted at KS3 History classrooms.

The aim of these materials is threefold:

• To give wider access to study of the ancient world at KS3
• Empower teachers of other subjects to teach classical material and feel supported in doing so
• Provide tangible evidence for Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and other decision makers regarding the popularity and accessibility of classical subjects.

Amarantus in the History Curriculum

The Amarantus materials are being carefully developed to meet the needs of the KS3 (Ancient) History classroom through use of research such as the Historical Association's annual Secondary Survey. 

The materials will provide clear links to terminology and concepts necessary for GCSE History or Ancient History comprising:

• an excellent 'depth study' on life in Pompeii, with great scope for studying the complexities of Roman society and interplay of aspects within it
• historical enquiry focusing on key concepts such as contiuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity and difference, and significance
• a focus on the use of evidence and how it supports (or refutes) historical claims
• exploration of how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed.