'Present and Future of the British Schools, Institutes and Societies Abroad': A Reply

The British Schools, Institutes and Societies comprise a group which collectively receives a substantial proportion of the British Academy’s research funding but whose current work is perhaps less well-known than it should be within the UK. The scale of the Academy grants leads properly to concern that the funding represents good value for money. In all assessments so far the answer has been positive, but some negative opinions have been expressed. As some of these are based on academic urban myths or past situations that no longer apply, I appreciate this opportunity to provide a basic account of where we are now. The invitation to write this paper referred to the British Schools abroad, a term in itself a little out of date, and it is impossible to discuss these without referring to other, similar bodies. This paper is written for an archaeological audience and therefore concentrates on this aspect of the Schools’ work, but it should be stressed at the outset that archaeology is only one area of interest.