Bringing the ancient world to East London
King’s College London and NewVIc present a bespoke series of exclusive classical study sessions with leading university professors.
The course is designed exclusively for students on NewVIc’s Honours Programme and is also available to a limited number of Year 11 students in the borough through their unique Schools Outreach programme.
This is an exciting opportunity for academically talented students from NewVIc and Newham Schools to learn about the Classical world. It is a fantastic opportunity to explore life at a Russell Group university; an exclusive programme only available at NewVIc. We are extremely lucky to be working with King’s College London to deliver these bespoke sessions year on year.
Carina Ancell
Curriculum Team Leader for Extended Studies, Newham Sixth Form College
The course aims to support students with high academic potential from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, by inspiring and engaging them in challenging topics often only taught in private schools.
Whilst Classics is sometimes perceived as an elitist subject, we wanted to enable our students from NewVIc to understand the richness and relevance of the classical world. King’s College London, is in the top five for Classics in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2018). The Department is renowned for its quality of teaching, student experience and cutting-edge research and our students have a unique opportunity to engage with world-class lecturers.
Professor Edith Hall
Lecturer of Classics - King’s College London
The sessions will be taught by senior lecturers from King’s College London and will cover a range of topics including ancient literature, religion, theology, Persian history and philosophy.
I really enjoyed the session acting out the Greek play Antigone and considering the different perspectives the audience member would have whilst had whilst watching the play. It has also widened my thoughts about degree options as I have always had a passion for English but I thoroughly enjoy learning the messages behind these play and am now considering Classics as a degree option because of its interdisciplinary nature. As well as learning more about the context of the time and how ancient Greeks would react to scenes like Antigone’s opposition to Creon. This play also echoes debates in modern society about gender relations and how rulers can use their position of power for exploitative reasons.
Emma Khatun
Honours and A Level Year 2 student
I believe the study of Classics is very important, and all schools should promote some level of classical education. In an ever-changing modern society, it is important to have a grounding of historical principles which have been passed down through millennia. A limited classical education leaves you stuck in the eternal present, lacking the ability to use the past, (or at least how the past is represented), as a frame of reference when making decisions which impact the present and future.
Juned Malek
NewVIc alumni and first year King’s College London student