salve Reader!

Before I delve into super-curricular activities and upcoming competitions, let me give you a bit of personal news: in two weeks I will be embarking on the trip of a lifetime!

As you may have guessed from the lovely picture of Procida above, I am going to Italy to dive in Baiae and visit the underwater remains of what was once the playground of the Roman elite.

I should get some quality time to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum and capture the pictures for the new e-book I am producing, shining the spotlight on the sites.

But back to super-curriculars: my love of Classics did not start with a big trip abroad or a course at a top institution. It started by watching Indiana Jones films in my living room, and then visiting a local museum with my parents. The moment I saw a Roman piece for the first time, I fell in love: being eye to eye with a 2000 year old object sparked an interest in the past that has never stopped growing.

Why am I telling you this? Because it is these small seeds that we plant early on that lead to bigger passions and abilities. I would not be speaking Latin and travelling the world now if I had not one day been blown away by a little perfume jar. I remember that moment vividly.

Students often tell me they decided to apply for a particular course at uni after reading one article or book, watching a play or attending a lecture. This is why it is important to keep participating in small projects, joining relevant courses and being exposed to new art and literature.

Today, I would like to draw your attention to the following little seeds that may grow into great passions, life-changing university applications and trips of a lifetime:

For A-Level students:

The 2026 Gladstone Memorial Essay Prizes and Omnibus Sam Hood Translation prizes have now been announced. Deadline is July 2026, but the earlier you get started the better. These are great prompts to get the creative juices flowing, and for growing knowledge and expertise for budding classicists, historians and literature lovers.

For KS2 and KS3 students:

The 2026 Classical Association Mythology Competition is a great opportunity to showcase your skills through creative writing, art or animation. I highly recommend this for everyone, as it can be a fun project to complete and it allows students to be a living part of Classical reception in action.

For those curious about Latin and eager to get started:

My Introductory Latin course is opening its doors on Friday. I have created this taster course to guide students personally from the very beginning, so that they can experience a first, positive encounter with a language that has opened academic doors for centuries. It is self-paced, but with direct access to me and plenty of feedback along the way.

If you are interested, please join the waiting list to make sure you find out as soon as it opens and can secure a spot here:

If you have any questions about this, you can just reply to this email, and I will get back to you.

in proximum!

Ana Martin

P.S.: My GCSE Latin Revision Course will be accepting students again next week. Make sure to sign up to the waiting list to find out about joining the 2026 cohort.