Classical Education Forum

What Classical Education Forum does

Classical Education Forum is a privately-held, founder-owned adult education provider based at Insole Court in Cardiff, Wales, founded in 2009 by former Cardiff University lecturer Liz Mayor. The company delivers continuing-education courses at university level in humanities, arts, and languages for learning enjoyment rather than formal accreditation, serving primarily adults seeking intellectual enrichment with a secondary segment of school-age families seeking 11+, 13+, GCSE, A-level, and selective-school entrance exam preparation.

The core product is a 71-course catalogue organised into seven categories: Egyptology, History, Art History, Architecture, Modern Languages (Italian, Spanish, French, Welsh), Ancient Languages (Latin), and History through Literature. This is supplemented by Private Tutoring Services delivered one-to-one via Zoom or Skype and a small Walking Tours offering led by a Wales Blue Badge Guide. Courses are delivered in two parallel formats: weekly in-person lectures at Insole Court in Llandaff, Cardiff, and live online sessions via Zoom accessible globally. Course fees range from £30 for one-day sessions to £230 for 10-week history courses, with private tutoring priced at undisclosed bespoke rates.

The technology stack is intentionally lean: a WordPress website with WooCommerce for course sales, Stripe for payment processing, and Zoom for online course delivery. There is no proprietary platform, no app, no disclosed API, and no AI or data infrastructure. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer, supported by content marketing via the company blog, an email newsletter, and an organic social presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Distribution is split between a domestic in-person channel at Insole Court and a global self-serve Zoom channel, with the website storefront serving as the unified commerce layer. The company has operated continuously for 14 years without external funding, employing approximately 5 people, with no evidence of institutional investment, acquisitions, or subsidiary activity.

Name

Classical Education Forum

Legal name

Classical Education Forum

Website

https://classicaleducationforum.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Classical Education Forum is a Cardiff-based, founder-owned adult education provider offering 71 humanities, arts, and language courses in-person at Insole Court and globally via Zoom, with supplementary private tutoring and walking tours serving intellectually curious adults and school-age families seeking exam preparation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult and Continuing Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College-Level Core Subject Tutoring (Gen Ed: Math, Writing, Sciences, Humanities) (EDANAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical Education K–12 Schools (EDAJABAF), Great Books/Core Curriculum Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAM)

Keywords

• Adult education courses
• Humanities continuing education
• Language tutoring services
• Exam preparation tutoring
• Cultural walking tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff, Wales

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Course Enrollment Fees: One-time fees charged per course enrollment. Students pay per course (typically 4-10 week terms) with pricing ranging from £30 to £230 depending on course duration and content.
2. Private Tutoring Services: Bespoke one-on-one tutoring services offered via Zoom or Skype. Pricing described as 'reasonable' but not publicly disclosed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Classical Education Forum is an adult education provider offering weekly multi-week courses in humanities, arts, and languages (ancient and modern) at university level for personal enrichment rather than formal accreditation. The catalogue of around 71 courses spans Egyptology, History, Art History, Architecture, Modern Languages, Ancient Languages, and History through Literature. Offerings are supplemented by bespoke one-to-one Private Tutoring for school-age students (GCSE, A-level, 11+ and 13+ entrance exams) and guided Walking Tours in Wales.

Product overview

The Classical Education Forum is an adult education organization offering a portfolio of courses across humanities, arts, and languages. The core offering consists of eight main course categories: Egyptology, History, Art History, Architecture, Modern Languages, Ancient Languages, and History through Literature. These are supplemented by Private Tutoring Services and Walking Tours. Courses are delivered primarily through weekly lectures at Insole Court in Cardiff, with most courses also available via Zoom. The organization was founded in 2009 and has been providing adult education for fourteen years, focusing on learning for enjoyment without formal accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Egyptology Courses Multi-week adult-education courses covering ancient Egyptian history, archaeology, and civilization (e.g., Cleopatra, Ramesses II, Saqqara discoveries), taught by subject experts and delivered in-person at Insole Court in Cardiff or globally via Zoom.
• History Courses Multi-week adult-education courses spanning British history, world history, Roman Britain, the Victorian era, the Weimar Republic, and other historical periods from antiquity to the modern era, taught by specialist historians and delivered in-person or via Zoom.
• Art History Courses Adult-education courses exploring art history topics such as Florence, Welsh art, and broader art movements, delivered by specialist art-history tutors for enrichment rather than accreditation.
• Architecture Courses Adult-education courses examining architectural history, including the work of Welsh architects Inigo Jones and John Nash, taught by specialist tutors for personal enrichment.
• Modern Languages Courses Multi-week adult-education language courses in Italian, Spanish, French, and Welsh at beginner, improver, advanced, and "terrified" levels, taught by native or specialist tutors in-person or via Zoom.
• Ancient Languages Courses Latin-language courses for beginners and advanced students, including a Latin Home Schooling option, designed for both adult learners and home-schooling families.
• History Through Literature Courses Short multi-week adult-education courses analyzing literary works as historical texts, covering authors such as J.G. Ballard, Jonathan Swift, and Elif Shafak, taught by specialist literature tutors.
• Private Tutoring Services Bespoke one-to-one tutoring delivered via Zoom or Skype for school-age students, covering English Language, English Literature, Classical Studies, History, Latin, Maths, and Science in support of 11+, 13+, Public School Entrance, GCSE and A-level preparation.
• Walking Tours with CEF Educational walking tours led by Wales Blue Badge Guides, covering destinations such as Barry Island, Cowbridge, Bath day trips, and Cardiff city tours, for cultural enrichment of adult learners and visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Student success in 13+ Common Entrance Exams leading to admission to top schools (Eton)

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Open University: UK's largest distance-learning institution, including Arts and Humanities faculty offerings. Broad incumbent operating in the same adult humanities education space, though credentialed and at far greater scale than CEF.
• FutureLearn: UK-based online course platform (owned by Global University Systems) offering short courses in humanities, history, and languages from universities worldwide. Competes directly for CEF's online Zoom learner with a much larger catalog and often free tiers.
• Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education: University-affiliated provider of part-time and short courses in humanities, arts, and languages for adult learners. Comparable value proposition with stronger institutional brand and greater course catalog depth.
• Oxford University Department for Continuing Education: Established university extension offering short courses, certificates, and summer schools in humanities and culture. Operates in the same evening/weekend adult humanities course market as CEF but with a strong brand premium.
• Cardiff University Department for Continuing Education: Local incumbent in the same Cardiff market where CEF operates; the founder herself was a former lecturer here. Competes for the same adult humanities learner through part-time courses and short programs.

Direct peers

• City Lit: London-based adult education college offering hundreds of courses in humanities, languages, art history, and culture. Closest direct analogue to CEF in mission (intellectual enrichment for adults), course catalog breadth, and hybrid in-person/online delivery.
• The School of Life: UK-founded adult education provider offering classes, workshops, and online content focused on cultural enrichment, philosophy, literature, and self-development. Highly comparable in the 'learning for personal growth' value proposition CEF targets.
• University of the Third Age (U3A): UK-wide network of self-governing local groups offering peer-led learning in humanities, languages, and culture for retired and semi-retired adults. Most direct overlap with CEF's primary 'enrichment learner' persona.

Regional players

• Adult Learning Wales (Addysg Oedolion Cymru): Welsh-government-funded adult community learning provider offering free courses across Wales, including humanities and languages. Geographic peer in the same Welsh market as CEF, competing for the same local adult learner.
• Workers' Educational Association (WEA): UK-wide adult education charity providing community-based courses in humanities, arts, and languages. Comparable as a long-established provider of adult learning for enjoyment, though funded and structurally larger than CEF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/classicaleducationforum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/classical-education-forum
• Instagraminstagram.com/classicaleducationforum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Classical Education Forum