Classical subjects are available to all pupils in various forms, and it is the Department’s aim to encourage and stimulate pupils’ curiosity about ancient Greek and Roman culture and society.
This is achieved both through the teaching of the Latin language and the study of Classical history, literature and civilisation. Studying these subjects provides our pupils with an appreciation of the ancient world and enables them to understand connections between ancient and modern cultures. Pupils learning about the Greek and Roman world can more fully understand the modern western world in which they live.
Public examination results in the Classics Department are excellent and each year some pupils decide to continue their studies at degree level, frequently at Oxbridge. Classical subjects are also highly regarded by employers in a wide range of professions, who recognise the analytical and problem solving skills which the learning of Latin and Classical Civilisation require.
Latin
Key Stage 3
Latin is taught to pupils in Sets 1 and 2 from the First to the Third Form (Years 7-9). The Cambridge Latin Course is followed. In these years, pupils learn a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, developing their translation, logical and analytical skills. They also gain an appreciation of aspects of ancient Roman life and culture.
Key Stage 4 - GCSE
The OCR syllabus is followed for GCSE Latin. The course is designed to teach pupils about both the language and the literature of the ancient Romans.
The language component of the course is studied intensively throughout the Fourth Form (Year 10). The ecce Romani course is followed. The Literature components are studied during the Fifth Form (Year 11), although language work also continued throughout this year.
50% of the course covers Latin unseen translations, whereby pupils are required to provide translations of short passages from Latin into English, as well as answer comprehension questions. The passages upon which these tasks are set are based on stories from Roman mythology. A vocabulary list and summary of grammatical structures is provided for the pupils. Examination of the language element of the course is divided equally between two papers: Language 1 (25%) and Language 2 (25%).
25% of the course is dedicated to the study of Verse Literature. Pupils are required to answer comprehension questions and provide short translations based on Latin passages written by authors studied during the course. These passages are typically set on passages from Virgil’s Aeneid.
25% of the course covers Prose Literature. In this paper, pupils are required to answer a series of comprehension questions and provide short translations based on the work of specified prose authors including Cicero, Caesar and Tacitus.
The study of ancient Greek is also available as an extra curricular option for pupils of GCSE Latin.
Sixth Form
The AS and A2 courses are available for all pupils who have achieved GCSE grades A* - B in Latin.
AS Level
50% of the AS course (which comprises 25% of the A Level qualification) is devoted to the study of Latin language. Pupils enhance and develop the translation skills acquired during the GCSE. In the examination they are required to translate two passages of Latin prose into English. Both passages are unseen examples of literature, one of which is taken from the work of the prose set text author, Cicero.
50% of the AS course is comprised of verse and prose literature. Pupils are required to answer comprehension questions and discuss points of literary technique on two authors. Sections of Cicero’s in Catilinam and Ovid’s Metamorphoses VIII are currently the set texts.
A2 Level
50% of the A2 course (which comprises 25% of the A Level qualification) is based on verse literature. The text currently set for study is Virgil’s Aeneid I. Pupils are required to answer comprehension questions and discuss literary technique for each author. They must also scan some lines of Latin.
This paper also contains an unseen element, which is the translation into English of a passage, currently taken from the works of Ovid.
50% of the A2 course is based on prose literature. For this component, sections of Tacitus’ Annales XIV and Livy Book XXIII are studied. They will then be tested in examination by a series of comprehension questions and short essays. The author set for unseen prose translation is Caesar.
There is no coursework requirement for this qualification.
Classical Civilisation
Key Stage 3
An introductory course in Classical Civilisation is taught to pupils in the third and fourth sets in the Third Form. This broadly covers some aspects of the Classical world, for example Greek religion, Greek Mythology, Roman entertainment, Roman Emperors. This enables pupils to gain an appreciation of ancient societies and realise the origins of many of our own customs and culture.
Key Stage 4 – GCSE
The GCSE course is open to all pupils who have an interest in the Classical world and opt to study it as a GCSE subject. It provides pupils with the opportunity to learn about Greek and Roman civilisations through the study of Classical culture and literature in translation. It is structured as follows:
Fourth Form
25% of the course is based on the study of Homer’s Odyssey. This epic story tells of the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus and the many trials he encounters on his return from the Trojan war.
25% of the course is based on the study of ancient Sparta. This module focuses on the unique social, political and military organisation of Spartan society.
Fifth Form
25 % of the course is based on the study of Sophocles’ Antigone. Pupils will complete a controlled assessment on this unit, which tells the story of Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, who strives for justice for her dead brother.
25% of the course is based on the study of ancient Rome. Pupils learn about the everyday life of a Roman citizen in the ancient capital, including modules on religion and sacrifice, education, gladiatorial combat and chariot racing.
Sixth Form
AS Level
50% of the AS course (which comprises 25% of the A Level qualification) is based on the study of Homer’s Odyssey and Society. The focus of this module is appreciation of Greek literature, society and values.
50% of the AS course comprises of the study of Greek Tragedy in its context. Pupils study Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Euripides’ Medea and Bacchae.
A2 Level
50% of the A2 course (which comprises 25% of the A Level qualification) is based on the study of Art and Architecture in the Greek world. Pupils study ancient Greek free standing sculpture, architectural sculpture, temple structure and vase paintings. Focus of study is the appreciation of the function and the religious and cultural significance of Greek Art.
50% of the A2 course is based on Virgil and the world of the hero. Pupils learn the features and structure of epic poetry by studying Virgil’s Aeneid and sections of Homer’s Iliad.
All literature studied is in English translation.
For each of the AS and A2 modules, pupils are required to answer one context question and write one essay based on the literature and primary evidence studied. Each of these modules will be assessed by examination. There is no coursework requirement for this qualification.
Outside the Classroom
Pupils’ fascination with the Classical world is developed outside the classroom, with the Department arranging a number of educational visits each year to relevant lectures, workshops, museums and theatres. Pupils of Classical Civilisation have recently seen productions of Sophocles’ Oedipus and Euripides’ Hippolytus, plays covered in the A Level syllabus. They have also lately visited the British Museum to view sculptures and vases covered in the Art and Architecture component. For Latin pupils, a trip to University College London to hear a lecture on Cicero’s Pro Milone helped deepen their understanding of the prose set text this year.
Pupils of Latin in the Fourth Form have the opportunity to study ancient Greek as an extra curricular activity, and numbers doing so are high. The Department also holds weekly Work Support sessions for pupils requiring extra guidance their studies. We run a Sixth Form mentoring scheme, whereby pupils in Year 12 can assist and support younger pupils who need short term help with homework. This not only helps the pupils in lower years, but can count towards the Sixth Formers’ Duke of Edinburgh Awards.