Aims
To introduce pupils to the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome and help them to gain insight into the continuing influence of these cultures on our lives today.
What is Classics?
The subject appeals and challenges in different ways throughout a pupil’s time at the school. From discussing the behaviour of the gods in the First Year to translating Virgil from the original Latin, from analysing the heroic quality of Achilles to describing the beauty of a Classical sculpture or analysing Ovid’s descriptive power; Latin and Classical Civilisation offer great depth of study to enquiring minds.
Staff and facilities
There are 4 full-time Classics teachers and the Classics department is housed in its own block of 4 classrooms. The department also has its own library in which Sixth Form teaching is done. All classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards and DVD players. The department makes full use of the large number of visual resources available for this subject.
How much time will I spend on this subject per 10 day cycle?
- First Year – 1 lesson (1 hour) with 1 x 30 minute homework
- Second Year and Third Year – 3 lessons (3 hours) with 2 x 30 minute homeworks
- GCSE – 5 lessons (5 hours) with 3 x 30 minute homeworks
- A Level – 10 lessons (10 hours) with additional private study
Classics in the Lower School
First Year pupils study the myths of the Ancient Greeks – Theseus and the Minotaur, Heracles, the Trojan War and many others – before moving on to learn about important aspects of life in Ancient Greece. Second and Third Years study Latin, following the journey of a young Roman from the ashes of Pompeii, through Alexandria and Roman Egypt to Roman Britain, while all the time learning to approach this most challenging of subjects with confidence and determination.
Classics further up the school
At GCSE pupils can choose between Latin and Classical Civilisation or, for true Classicists, study both. Students can continue to study either or both subjects at A Level.
Are there any extracurricular activities?
There are a number of clubs offered by the Classics department. First Year pupils can join Classics club which gives pupils an opportunity to explore the ancient world through a variety of craft and other educational projects. There is also a hieroglyphic club offered for those wishing for something more esoteric! The annual Classics play has a firm slot in the school calendar. Over the last 5 years we have put on Medea, Agamemnon, Oedipus, Hippolytus, Antigone and Trojan Women. Additionally, suitable pupils in the Third Year are offered the chance to take Ancient Greek GCSE in the Fourth Year, after a course of extracurricular lessons.
Trips
In 2010 the department took a large party of pupils from the Fourth Year upwards on a tour to Rome and the Bay of Naples. In addition to this, in Summer 2010 the Classics and Geography departments took a group of Third Year pupils to Sorrento to see Vesuvius and its victim, Pompeii. In 2012 the department will be taking a party of 50 pupils on a tour of Greece, visiting Athens, Delphi, Olympia amongst other sites. The Sixth Form have been on trips to the British Museum in London, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Regular theatre trips are also offered.
