Campaign to retain A Level Ancient History

Godolphin and Latymer organised an impressive demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament on Monday 14th May.   Lower 8th Pauline Ancient Historians joined the ranks (also present was Old Pauline Robert Parker, Professor of Ancient History at Oxford) with imaginative banners. They supported Boris Johnson MP, wearing a toga for the occasion, as he addressed the assembled crowd in protest about the proposed abolition of Ancient History A level by OCR - the only examination board which still offers the subject.

Urging the government to halt the plans by OCR, Boris said the course was of huge importance to Britain and its culture.  "It's a wonderful subject, it's well taught, let's encourage more people to do it," he said.

The St Paul's students went prepared, taking their own banners to the event.  These included slogans such as:

"What would Thucydides say?" and "Madness? THIS IS SPARTA!" (a quotation from the recent film 300).

The campaign seems to have been successful as, in a reply to a question from Lord Faulkner of Worcester about the Oxford and Cambridge Examination Board's (OCR) decision to scrap the last remaining A-level in Ancient History, schools' minister Lord Adonis announced this afternoon (16.5.07):

The government is not content to see the withdrawal of ancient history as a free-standing examination at A-level, and we have invited OCR and QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) to come forward with proposals for its continuance.  

Tom Harrison, Professor of Ancient History at Liverpool, chairman of JACT and chief campaigner, said:

The response, not only from universities and schools but also from the general public, has taken our breath away in terms both of scale and conviction. JACT would like to thank all those who have lent their support.