Classics

Key Stage 3

All boys in Years 7 and 8 study Latin following the Cambridge Latin Course Books 1 and 2, Stages 1–18. We read stories, based on historical characters and situations in Pompeii and Britain in the 1st century AD. Roman Civilization material uses sites, artefacts and inscriptions which interact with the language content. Assessment uses internal school exams and, sometimes, the Cambridge Latin Course Graded Tests.

All boys in Year 8 also study Greek Civilization and a little Greek language. We use an internally developed course looking at the roots of words in the English language, mythology and some stories based on the adventures of Odysseus. Assessment always uses the East Midlands Association of Classical Teachers (EMACT) Graded Tests.

In Year 9 Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation are options. For Latin we carry on with the Cambridge Latin Course Books 2 and 3, Stages 19–28, which continues introducing grammar and some syntax through stories set in Roman Egypt and Britain. Some aspects of literary criticism are also introduced. For Greek we use a variety of courses including Thrasymachus, Wilding's Greek for Beginners and Greek to GCSE, concentrating very much on language work but not ignoring mythology and civilization aspects. In Classical Civilisation we study the world of Homer's Iliad, the campaigns of Alexander the Great, Virgil's Aeneid, and Roman Britain.

GCSE

We offer the full range of Classical options from the OCR syllabus.

For Latin we complete the Cambridge Latin Course as the stories move to Rome and some complex political intrigues ensue. We also study the set texts for literature, usually an extract from Virgil's epic story of the hero Aeneas, and prose set books, for example Caesar's account of the Druids.

For Greek we complete the course book started in Year 9. We also study the set texts for literature usually an extract from Homer's epic story of the hero Odysseus or an extract from Greek Tragedy.

For Classical Civilization we usually pursue the Greek topics although occasionally Roman topics have been studied. We study two civilization topics and two literature topics. In recent years we have studied Home and Family in Athens, Greek Athletic and Theatrical Festivals, and Sparta & the Spartan System for civilization and, for literature, sections of Homer's Odyssey and two plays of Euripides or Sophocles.

AS and A2

We offer the full range of Classical options. The teaching of all subjects is sometimes shared with Loughborough High School.

For Advanced level Latin and Greek we follow the OCR specifications (Latin, Greek). The syllabus is evenly divided between study of language and literature. For AS Latin, We read selections from Ovid's Metamorphoses and Cicero's speech against Catiline. Language work is tested by unseen translation. For A2, other set books are studied (Virgil Aeneid I or Catallus, Tacitus Annals XIV or Livy Book XXIII), and the language element may include translation from English to Latin. The Greek syllabus has a similar structure, and set books include works by Homer, Lysias, Euripides and Plato.

In recent years, students taking Latin and Greek at A2 Level been offered places at universities including Oxford and Cambridge in subjects as diverse as Philosophy & German, Mathematics, Chemistry and Chinese, as well as Classics.

Classical Civilization follows the AQA specification At AS we are studying the Age of Cicero and Homer's Odyssey. For A2, options include Greek Tragedy and Roman Epic.

These topics provide a variety and breadth which pupils find stimulating and inspiring. Our approach involves developing an effective essay style: as well as showing a thorough grasp of the facts, students must be able to present a reasoned, well argued interpretation of the material. Due to the nature of the evidence, background reading in secondary sources is less important than direct study of primary sources. This means that pupils do not have large amounts of reading, but do need to develop a sound awareness when dealing with the texts.

Extra-curricular

The Department takes walking trips to Hadrian's Wall for Years 8 and 9 in June and biennial trips to Italy or Greece at Easter in conjunction with LHS (although we have also visited Tunisia and Sicily for variety). Year 10 Classicists have a Field Study day for coursework at The British Museum or Bath (including the Lunt fort at Coventry) or, occasionally, Caerleon or St Albans. We enter, and have hosted, the EMACT Reading and Project competitions, attend Classical Association lectures based around Nottingham University, take groups to plays at Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and occasionally London, and hold a Classics Day for Adults for parents who wish to renew their acquaintance with the Ancient World.