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Overview

Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson

Professor of Classics Education and Public Policy MBE

MBE


Affiliations
Affiliation
Professor of Classics Education and Public Policy MBE in the Department of Classics and Ancient History

Biography

Arlene Holmes-Henderson is Professor of Classics Education and Public Policy at 黑料网 where she holds a British Academy Innovation Fellowship (2022-2024). After studying Classics at Oxford, Harvard and Cambridge, Arlene qualified as a schoolteacher and taught in high schools for more than a decade before returning to academia. Arlene has conducted international comparative research in the USA as a Fulbright Scholar, in Australia as a Churchill Fellow and in New Zealand as an Erskine Fellow.

She is Vice-Chair of the with national responsibility for Arts and Humanities and is an expert advisor to international governments, parliaments and assessment agencies. She leads several research projects at 黑料网 including an interdisciplinary project with colleagues in Education, English and Psychology, 'Shy Bairns Get Nowt', which investigates the relationship between oracy, persuasion and employability. You can read more about this .

Arlene works alongside Professor Edith Hall and Dr Peter Swallow on the Leverhulme Trust-funded project . Her focus is on the reception of Aristotle's rhetoric by members of the clergy, legal educators and auto-didacts.

In 2024, she is working with Dr Tom Wright (University of Sussex) on the AHRC-funded project . Her work here focuses on co-designing with teachers, new resources on oracy for use in Scottish schools.

Arlene was awarded an by King Charles III in the Birthday Honours 2023.

For more information, see her website and follow her on twitter @profarlenehh.

Publications

Publications:

Holmes-Henderson, A., Martin, B. and A. Penn (in press) 鈥楥lassics in Ireland: an update from schools鈥 in Zucchetti, E., Bellomo, M., Saldutti, V., & Cimino, A. M. (Eds.) (2024). Class and Classics: Subalterns and the Production of Classical Culture, De Gruyter.

Holmes-Henderson, A. Kelly, K., Moorghen, A. and R. Simon-Caffyn (in press)听鈥榃hat is the relationship between oracy, confidence and outcomes for teachers and students?鈥, in Wright, T. (ed.). The Use of Oracy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Lambert, S. (in press) 鈥極racy Overseas鈥 in in Wright, T. (ed.). The Use of Oracy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (in press) 鈥楾alk is cheap? A survey of oracy training providers in England鈥 in Zmavc, J. Rhetorical Education worldwide, Ljubljana University Press.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2023a)听Expanding Classics: practitioner perspectives from museums and schools, Routledge, London.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2023b)

Holmes-Henderson (2023c) 鈥楢ward-Winning Author Discusses the Importance of Studying Classics鈥, Routledge Blog, 18th July 2023

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2023d) 鈥楾he pioneering academic who is making classics cool in schools鈥, AHRC blog, 1st August 2023

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2023e) 鈥楶olicy Engagement beyond borders: Strengthening EU-UK collaboration鈥, UPEN blog, 15th December 2023

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2023f) 鈥榃idening the evidence base for policy: experiences and opportunities鈥, UPEN blog, 28th November 2023

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2023g) 鈥楽cience for Policy in Europe: reporting from Brussels鈥, UPEN blog, 28th November 2023

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Kelly, K. (2023) 鈥楲earn the root. Conquer the word. Investigating the efficacy of Vocabulous in teaching word roots鈥, Christ Church Research Centre

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Wright, T. (2023a) 鈥榃hat鈥檚 the evidence for a focus on Oracy?鈥, Times Educational Supplement (TES), 12th July 2023.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Wright, T. (2023b) 鈥楳aking the voice matter in English Studies Teaching鈥,听English: Journal of the English Association,

Webster, L. and Holmes-Henderson, A. (2023)听EMC Approaches to Rhetoric: A Practical Guide for 11-14 year-olds, English and Media Centre.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2022b) 鈥榃idening access to ancient cultures in museums and schools through partnership working鈥,听National Centre for Academic and Culture Exchange Blog, 7th November 2022.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2022a) 鈥楥lassics and educational policy 鈥 an update鈥 in C. Ryan (ed). Perspectives on Classics, CUCD Bulletin, 51, 20-23.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Kelly, K. (2022) Ancient Languages in Primary Schools in England: a Literature Review. Department for Education. His Majesty鈥檚 Government.

Taylor, A., Holmes-Henderson, A. and S. Jones (2022) 鈥楥lassics education in Northern Irish primary schools: curriculum policy and classroom practice鈥, Journal of Classics Teaching, 1-7.

Holmes-Henderson, A., Zmavc, J. and Kaldahl, A-G. (2022) 鈥極racy, rhetoric and citizenship: curricular innovations from Scotland, Slovenia and Norway鈥, Literacy, 56, 3, 253-263.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2022) 鈥楯ubilation, trepidation, exasperation: explaining academics鈥 reactions to contact from policy makers鈥, Policy Profession blog. (read by up to 30,000 civil servants)

Holmes-Henderson, A. and H. Jack (2022) 鈥楢cademic-Policy collaboration with no fee: the benefits of knowledge exchange partnerships鈥, Policy Profession blog. (read by up to 30,000 civil servants)

Goff, B., Holmes-Henderson, A., Messenger, J. and A. Petsalis-Diomidis, (2021) 鈥業nclusive Classics Initiative. Report on 鈥淭owards a More Inclusive Classics II鈥 International Workshop organised by Professor Barbara Goff and Dr Alexia Petsalis-Diomidis, Council of University Classics Departments Bulletin, 50, 1-6.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Watts, B. (2021) 鈥榃hat grades are needed to study Classical subjects at UK universities?鈥, Journal of Classics Teaching, 22, 43, 1-7.

Swallow, P. and Holmes-Henderson, A. (2021) 鈥榃orking towards fairer access to Classical subjects in schools: the Advocating Classics Education (ACE)听project鈥, Council of University Classics Departments Equality Diversity and Inclusion Blog, 24th May 2021.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Kelly, K. (2021b) 鈥楥lassical connections: enriching English teaching with help from the Greeks and Romans鈥, Litdrive blog, 2nd May 2021.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Kelly, K. (2021a) 鈥楢ncient and modern languages in primary schools鈥, Oxford Humanities blog, 21st April 2021. and

Hunt, S. and Holmes-Henderson, A. (2021) 鈥楢 level Classics poverty. Classical subjects in schools in England: access, attainment and progression鈥, CUCD Bulletin, 50, 1-26.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2021d) 鈥楥lassical subjects in English schools: Confronting inequalities of access鈥, British Educational Research Association blog, 14 July 2021.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2021c) 鈥楶rimary Greek鈥, ARGO, 13, 40-42.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2021b) 鈥楧eveloping multiliteracies through Classical mythology in British classrooms鈥, in L. Maurice (ed.) Our Mythical Education: The Reception of the Classical World in Formal Education 1900-2020, University of Warsaw Press, 139-154.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2021a) Engaging with policymakers as a researcher in the Arts and Humanities: a guide to how, what and why, Universities Policy Engagement Network Blog.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and M. Musi茅 (2020d) 鈥楽taging the Archive: Classics in Communities鈥, The Archive for the Performance of Greek and Roman Drama podcast, Oxford.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2020c) 鈥楽urviving the infodemic 鈥 teaching students to read between the lines鈥, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust blog, 13th October 2020.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2020b) 鈥楾eaching critical literacy in schools: a research-informed approach鈥 in C. Coyle (ed.) Identifying Fake News: critical literacy and the school library, School Library Association, Swindon.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2020a) 鈥榃hat鈥檚 it like training in England but teaching in Scotland?鈥, Quinquennium, 8 January 2020.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2019b) 鈥楤ook review: The Six Secrets of Intelligence鈥, Times Educational Supplement, 29th September 2019.

White, B. and Holmes-Henderson, A. (2019a) 鈥楲atin Lovers鈥, , Trinity Term 2019, 7.

Holmes-Henderson, A., Hunt, S. and听Musi茅, M. (eds.) (2018) Forward with Classics. Classical languages in schools and communities, Bloomsbury academic, London.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2018c) 鈥極xford-Africa Classics Research Collaboration鈥, Oxford University Faculty of Classics Blog 19th July 2018.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Tempest, K. (2018) 鈥楥lassics and twenty-first-century skills鈥 in A. Holmes-Henderson, S. Hunt and M. Musi茅 (eds.) Forward with Classics. Classical languages in schools and communities, Bloomsbury academic, London.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2018b) 鈥楢 winning formula: Classical rhetoric for oracy education鈥, , 42.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2018a) 鈥楢rtistic licence: how learning Latin could change your life鈥, University of Oxford Arts Blog 31st January 2018. and The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities Blog 16th February 2018.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2017d) 鈥楥lassics in communities resources for 鈥渘on-specialist鈥 teachers of Latin and/or Ancient Greek鈥, Classical Association Blog, 21st November 2017.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2017c) 鈥楥lassical subjects in schools: a comparative study of New Zealand and the United Kingdom鈥 in D. Burton, S. Perris and J. Tatum (eds.), Athens to Aotearoa: Greece and Rome in New Zealand Literature and Society, Victoria University Wellington Press, 326-346.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2017b)Advocating Classics Education鈥, , 72, 4.

Hall, E. and Holmes-Henderson, A. (2017a) Advocating Classics Education: a new national project鈥, Journal of Classics Teaching, Vol. 18, 36, 25-28.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2016d) 鈥楤ringing Cambridge IGCSE Latin to life in Rome鈥, Cambridge Outlook, 23, 24.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2016c)Growing Greek in Schools: from gorillas to talking vases鈥, ARGO, 4, 16-17.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2016b) 鈥楾eaching Latin and Greek in primary classrooms: the Classics in Communities Project鈥, Journal of Classics Teaching, Vol. 17, 33, 50-53.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2016a) Responsible citizenship and critical skills in Scotland鈥檚 Curriculum for Excellence: the contribution of Classical rhetoric to democratic deliberation鈥, in P.Carr, P.Thomas, B. Porfilio and J. Gorlewski (eds.), Democracy and decency: what does education have to do with it?鈥, , 213-228.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Mitropoulos, A. (2016) 鈥楢 celebration of Greek language and culture education in the UK鈥, Journal of Classics Teaching, Vol. 17, 34, 55-57.

Holmes-Henderson , A. (2015) 鈥楾he Classics in Communities project鈥, Oxford University Faculty of Classics newsletter, 6.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2014b) Reading between the lines: improving the UK鈥檚 critical literacy education, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, which informed the National Literacy Trust/APPG Literacy鈥檚 Parliamentary Commission Report on Critical Media Literacy and Fake News (2018) .

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2014a) 鈥楥lassical pedagogy: a postcard from Hawaii鈥, Cloelia, 4, 54.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2012) 鈥楥lassics Teachers on Tour鈥, Journal of Classics Teaching, Vol. 26, 32-33.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2009a) 鈥楲earning to love Latin the modern way鈥, Private Schools Revealed , 19th June 2009, 8-14.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2009b) 鈥楶assport to a world of opportunity 鈥 now you鈥檙e talking鈥, The Scotsman newspaper, 29th September 2009.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2009c) 鈥楢mamus Latin鈥, Secondary Headship, 2nd November 2009, 11-17.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2008) 鈥楪ifted Girls and Groovy Greek鈥, Journal of Classics Teaching, Vol. 14, 4-6.

Holmes-Henderson, A. (2007) 鈥楽kill to do comes of doing: Surviving the Cambridge Classics PGCE 2005-2006鈥, Journal of Classics Teaching, Vol. 10, 6-8.

In Preparation

Holmes-Henderson, A., Hall, E. (under contract) Classical Civilisation and Ancient History in British secondary education, Liverpool University Press, Liverpool.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Howard, K. (under contract), Reviving rhetoric across the curriculum, Routledge, London.

Holmes-Henderson, A. and Dixon, J. (under contract) Secondary Classics in Action, Hodder Education, London.

Nitu, S. and Holmes-Henderson, A. (under contract) Humanities Forward: Opportunity, Innovation, Policy in the 21st Century, Liverpool University Press, Liverpool.

Hall, E., Holmes-Henderson, A. and Swallow, P. (under contract) Aristotle Beyond the Academy in Britain and Ireland 1660-1922, Routledge, London.听

Research interests

  • Academic-Museum education partnerships
  • Access to classical studies in schools and communities
  • Classics Education
  • Classics and employability
  • Education Policy (Arts and Humanities)
  • Rhetoric, oracy and critical skills

Esteem Indicators

  • 2024: Member of the Academia Europaea: Elected to membership of the European Academy in recognition of outstanding contributions to Classics research.
  • 2023: Chair of the Latin Expert Panel at the Department for Education:
  • 2023: MBE for Services to Education:
  • 2022: Vice Chair Universities Policy Engagement Network:
  • 2022: Arts and Humanities Research Council: Member of Peer Review College
  • 2022: British Council Language Trends Advisory Group: Representative for Ancient Languages
  • 2022: University Council for Languages (Executive Committee Member): Member of Executive Committee (Classical Studies)
  • 2021: : Chair of this national strategic group which brings together 15 professional organisations and learned societies to discuss discipline-wide issues.
  • 2021: Arts and Humanities Research Council: Member of Public Policy Advisory Board
  • 2021: British Academy Languages Advisory Group: Representative for Languages
  • 2020: : Outreach Office, Council Member and Vice Chair of The Classical Association Teaching Board
  • 2020: British Academy National Strategic Committee for Languages: Representative for Classics
  • 2018: : Member of the Roman Studies Committee
  • 2016: : Member of Steering Group, a sub-committee of the British Educational Research Association
  • 2015: : Elected Member of Fulbright Alumni Council

Publications

Journal Article