Committee publication · Correspondence · 29 April 2026

Letter from the Classical Association on Cambridge OCR regarding their withdrawal of selected general qualifications dated 22.04.26.

Summary

The Classical Association writes to the Education Committee regarding Cambridge OCR's withdrawal of AS-level qualifications in Latin and Classical Greek, announced in March 2026 without stakeholder consultation. The Association raises concerns about regulatory compliance, disproportionate impact on state-sector learners, and threats to post-16 curriculum breadth, urging OCR to reverse the decision or extend the final assessment opportunity to June 2028.

Key findings

Cambridge OCR announced withdrawal of AS qualifications in Latin and Classical Greek in March 2026 without prior consultation with schools, colleges, or subject associations, despite being the sole provider of these qualifications.
The withdrawal violates Ofqual conditions requiring awarding organisations to take reasonable steps to protect learners' interests and ensure clear communication; centres report being left without viable alternative provision.
Over the past five years, 58.7% of AS Latin entries and 42.3% of AS Greek entries came from non-independent schools, indicating AS qualifications are essential for widening participation in the state sector.
AS qualifications sustain A-level provision in many schools through co-teaching and serve as standalone qualifications on reduced contact time; their removal risks lowering A-level entry numbers nationally and eliminating post-16 access to classical languages entirely in some regions.
The decision undermines Department for Education policy supporting classics and ancient languages as part of a broad and varied curriculum, and exacerbates existing geographical inequalities in access to classical subjects.

Tone

Critical

Topics

education-qualificationscurriculum-breadtheducational-equitypost-16-provisionstakeholder-engagement

Key actors

Classical Association, Cambridge OCR, Ofqual, Department for Education, Education Committee, Gráinne Cassidy, Henry Cullen, Professor Judith Mossman

Notable line

“… this absence of stakeholder engagement is particularly concerning. Ofqual conditions require awarding organisations withdrawing qualifications to take reasonable steps to protect learners' interests and to ensure clear communication …”

Key Quotes

“Cambridge OCR's announcement to centres in March 2026 came without any prior consultation with schools, colleges or subject associations .”
— Classical Association · describing the withdrawal process

“Over the past five years, 58.7% of AS Latin entries and 42.3% of AS Greek entries came from non ‑ independent schools, while far fewer state ‑ sector students progress to the full A level.”
— Classical Association · demonstrating disproportionate impact on state sector

“AS qualifications play a crucial role in widening participation and maintaining access where full A levels cannot be sustained.”
— Classical Association · explaining importance of AS-level provision

“We believe OCR's decision undermines fairness, transparency and learner protection, and risks long ‑ term damage to Classics education in England.”
— Classical Association · summarising their central concern

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗