On Friday, 3rd February, we were delighted to host once again the Francis Holland School National Classics Conference, the ninth time we have run this event.

Professor Matthew Leigh (St Anne’s, Oxford), spoke on one of the A Level set texts, Virgil’s Aeneid VIII, particularly focusing on ‘Time and Place’ and ‘The importance of Hercules’ in this set text. In the afternoon, Professor Gregory Hutchinson (Christ Church, Oxford) spoke on Cicero’s speech on Behalf of Milo, looking at its status as both literature and a legal speech.

All four lectures were excellent, and allowed both Francis Holland School sixth formers and the 55 guests coming from nine different schools around the country to explore their chosen set texts in more detail, as well as experiencing a taste of University life. We were impressed by the quality and range of questions asked by the Lower Sixth students, and an excellent time was had by all.