Exams are there to focus attention and showcase achievement, but it is necessary to mix exams up with lower stakes, fun projects. This is particularly important for students who want to apply to competitive universities and want to look at creative and appealing ways to stretch their skills.

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In this newsletter, I want to share with you a couple of currently open competitions. There are so many options that every student, both those in school or in a different setting, should be able to find one that matches their skills and interests.

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But before I give you the details, I really need to say that it is a pleasure for me to encourage your student to take part in this AI free creative pursuit, which is a celebration of learning, crafting and sharing. But I digress, back to the fun:

2025 Gladstone Memorial Essay Prizes

The competition is open to anyone under 19 and still in full-time education who has not yet completed A levels or IB. The first prize stands at £200, the second at £100. Essays must not exceed 2000 words.

The topics for 2025 are the following:

• What can we learn about beliefs and ideas from archaeological remains? Choose one archaeological site as the basis for your discussion.
• What can Greek tragedies tell us about the classical Athenian view of the human condition?
• How similar were Greek and Roman ideas regarding masculinity?
• Should study of the ancient Greeks begin with the study of Homer?
• ‘The narrative and meaning of ancient artefacts in museums and galleries is shaped not by the objects themselves but by the museum curators.’ Discuss.
• Which writer of history in antiquity do historians today have most to learn from?
• ‘The politics gets in the way of the poetry.’ Discuss this verdict on Virgil’s Aeneid.
• ‘The mosaics from Romano-British villas show that by the fourth-century A.D. Britain had become thoroughly Romanized.’ Discuss.

Go to the CA Website for more information on this competition.

2025 Omnibus Sam Hood translation Prizes

These are the passages for 2025:

Plutarch, Life of Antony 26.1-3

Euripides, Electra 300-322

Longus, Daphnis and Chloe 1.9.2-10.3

Cicero, Pro Murena 22

Ovid, Metamorphoses 3.708-31

Propertius, Elegies 1.1-24

From the CA website: "The judges will be looking for accuracy but also, and especially, for creativity when making their decisions. The competition is open to anyone under 19, still in full-time pre-university education. The prize-winner will receive not only a cheque for £75 but also a book of classical poetry."

U25 Write, Speak, Design Competition: Why is Classics important?

This is a more flexible competition, with a variety of formats to choose from. Here are the options from the Celebrating Classics Campaign website:

• A written manifesto of 500-2000 words (sent as a PDF)
• A poster, which can contain up to 500 words, as well as images (sent as a PDF or jpg)
• A video presentation of maximum 15 minutes (sent as a link to an unlisted YouTube video)

CA Mythology Competition for KS2 and KS3

This another flexible competition focussing on the Wooden Horse for KS2 and Romulus and Remus for KS3. Here are the options from their website:

• Creative Writing

This can be a short story, a play, a retelling, a poem or any other creative written response. There is a word limit of 500 words and it should be submitted as a Word document; please note that scanned handwritten pieces will not be judged.

• Art

This can be a painting, a sculpture in any material, a collage or any other artistic endeavour. Please submit as a .jpeg, with views of all angles if necessary.

• Animation

This can be silent, spoken or sung! It can be animated or use, for example, PlayMobil figures or home-made puppets. It should not use real people. Please submit as a YouTube link to an unlisted video. Whilst we will endeavour to access any we are sent in different formats, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

As you can see, the proposed projects are interesting, motivating and a true invitation to high level examination of the classical world. In addition to the substantial and prestigious prizes, they provide a great learning opportunity for all. Please check the individual website for full details, which I have included in each section.

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If you are unsure about activities to enrich your student's learning experience, please feel free to reply to this email and start the conversation about the options out there. I offer Greek courses you can take to certification level, as well as a variety of resources to explore Latin, including Latin speaking and writing, if you are looking for an alternative, more active way to learn.