Teaching Awards 2025

Philip Harper: Innovative Pedagogy

Philip has worked tirelessly to bring the ancient world to life through his weekly Digital Classics club for years 8 and 9 at Loughborough Grammar School. Using a range of technologies and applications, he has engaged a wide range of students, including those who haven’t taken a classical GCSE, with topics such as pottery making in the ancient world, Greek symposia, chariot racing, the seven wonders of the ancient world, and temple construction. He has developed innovative activities that allow students to explore ancient sites and events using VR, design temples and other buildings in Lego, and use CAD modelling to design Greek-inspired vases for 3D printing and decorating. By combining practical and virtual activities, he has brought the ancient world to life in his classroom for his pupils.

Timothy Adelani: Outstanding New Teacher

Timothy has demonstrated exceptional commitment to Classics education within the state sector. As a teacher at Pimlico Academy and as Head of Department at Trinity Academy, he has had an extraordinary impact in a short period. His curriculum development work has been central to widening participation in Classics. He has provided bespoke resources for EAL students and lower prior attainers, ensuring Latin and Classical Civilisation are engaging and accessible for all learners. As Head of Classics, he has more than tripled the uptake of Latin at GCSE, and has introduced Classical Civilisation both at GCSE and A Level. Timothy has also established extracurricular provision, including Ancient Greek and Ancient World clubs, and his leadership has ensured continuity and coherence in the Classics curriculum, supporting both colleagues and students with energy and expertise.

Gina Johnson: Outstanding State Sector Initiative, part-sponsored by the NEC

As a Classics Teacher at High Storrs School for almost forty years, Gina’s commitment to ensuring a place in the curriculum for Classics and Latin is incredible. She is a tireless and passionate advocate always looking for innovative ways to engage young people and promote the subjects, ensuring that year on year, uptake is strong, supporting the development of new Classics and Latin teachers as well as sharing resources, ideas and advice with other schools looking to add Classics to their curriculum. Despite her experience and service to others, Gina continues to undertake professional development herself to ensure her lessons and resources are as engaging and accessible as possible. Many pupils have been and continue to be inspired by her – indeed, previous students have gone on to become Classics teachers themselves. High Storrs School is undoubtedly very fortunate to have had a teacher so committed to their subject for four decades.

Stuart Falconer: Award for Promoting the Study of the Ancient World, sponsored by Cambridge University Press

Stuart’s dedication to and positive influence on his students, as the sole teacher of Classical Civilisation in the largest college in Cornwall, has seen him open up opportunities for students in the South West to pursue classics. He captivates his students, as he masterfully brings ancient history and culture to life, sparking genuine interest and engagement among students. He cultivates an open atmosphere where students feel empowered to ask questions whenever they are unsure, ensuring that no one is left behind in their understanding and leaving them feeling confident in their knowledge. Stuart goes above and beyond, organising competitions, arranging talks from academics and establishing and running the CA’s Cornwall Branch.

Jennifer Shearer: Lifetime Achievement Award

Jennifer, a state-school teacher, maintained high numbers of pupils in the subject at Kirkcaldy High School, while the subject was largely collapsing in the Scottish State Sector. For some years, her work represented more than 70% of the pupils taking Standard Grade, National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher Latin. For decades, she embodied a level of inclusion and accessibility to the discipline that simply wasn’t replicated elsewhere – her pupils adore her, and in Classics circles in Scotland she is considered one of the great inspirations. Whilst some say tritely that Latin can be for everyone, Jennifer made that possible day in and day out. Without her enthusiastic commitment to Latin, it is plausible that the subject might have been withdrawn from the SQA roster. Latin in Scottish state schools owes her a great debt of gratitude. In addition to her years of keeping Latin going, she has worked with Classics for All, CAS and SQA to draw focus to Latin, and its continued usefulness, and was one of the team that successfully lobbied GTCS to give ancient history greater recognition in the context of PGDE courses. Jennifer is the epitome of a ‘well-kent face’ in Scottish Classics, and is the very deserved winner of this prize.