Classics

Classical Civilisation and Latin are introduced to the curriculum at Year 9, laying the foundations for those who will continue at GCSE level.

GCSE Classical Civilisation (Years 10 & 11) - the course provides a varied and exciting exploration of the culture of the ancient world, covering Greek theatre, Greek and Roman religion, art and architecture, Greek science and democracy. It is a popular subject at GCSE with excellent results: the majority of students obtain an A* or A grade.

GCSE Latin (Years 10 & 11) - aims to develop a reading competence using a selection of Latin literature, and to develop an awareness of the character of the Latin language and its influence on English and modern languages. Almost all grades achieved are A* and A.

A-level Classical Civilisation (Lower and Upper Sixth) - a fascinating and well-structured course which offers candidates the opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of selected aspects of Classical Greek civilisation at AS (one year) and both Classical Greek and Roman civilisation at A-level (two year).

This lively course can be combined with any other subjects and requires no prior knowledge of the subject. Students go on to a variety of university courses including business, accountancy, English, theatre studies, law, history etc. Examination results are consistently high.

The courses are enriched with audio-visual material and outings to sites such as Bath, Fishbourne Roman Palace and the British Museum where students can see historical artefacts at first hand. A-level Classical Civilisation students have previously visited the London-based Institute of Education for conferences led by lecturers from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, which gave the studentsbetter insights into specific subject areas such as Homer's Odyssey.

Mount Vesuvius

During the half term holiday of October 2003, the Classics Department took a group of students to see the historic sights of Rome and Naples in Italy. It is hard to single out a favourite moment from such a wealth of experiences. Yet the Colosseum, for its impossing architectural mass that dominates the landscape of Rome, has to be classed as a fascinating inight into the gladiatorial contests that were so popular in the Roman world. We were able to stand looking down at the arena, imagining the days when the contests took place. A short walk away, we visited the extensive ruins of the Forum, which revealed to us the importance of the commercial, legal and religious heart of Rome. Our visit to the Vatican Museum was a unique experience as we explored the corridors, featuring collections of antiquities and famous works of art, leading to the Sistine Chapel. Travelling south, we reached the Bay of Naples and saw Vesuvius towering above the settlements. We all considered our visit to Pompeii as an opportunity of a lifetime, seeing the wonderfully preserved remains that have been excavated so far. On the journey back, we visited Solfatara, a volcanic crater with steaming jets rising from the ground. The trip has given us a huge collection of memories and enriched us all.
Mrs Moreton-Jackson, Head of Dept.