Classics
‘Our own world would be immeasurably the poorer, and immeasurably less comprehensible to us, if we did not continue to interact with the Roman past.’
Professor Mary Beard
Latin Intent
We want all students to have an introduction to the language from which over half of English words have been derived, and from which French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Romanian have all evolved. Our teachers help the students to see the links between Latin and these different languages. We also want them to understand the workings of Latin grammar, which will in turn help to reinforce their grasp of English grammar. To bring the language alive, we believe that the students should study the Roman culture that used it. This also provides an opportunity for them to reflect on the extent to which ancient thinking has influenced their lives today, and to consider what they can learn about themselves by comparing their attitudes with those of the ancients. To support all of these aims, they study stories in Latin, complete language exercises, learn vocabulary and take part in quizzes and tests on a regular basis.
At the end of Year 7 the 60 most successful students will continue with the subject, whilst the rest of the year group will transfer across to Classical Civilisation. During Years 8 – 10, our Latin students continue to follow the Cambridge Latin Course, which is the most popular course in England. This course aims to expose students to as much Latin as possible so that they become familiar with its usage. The course provides a carefully structured introduction to key aspects of the language which helps the students to gain confidence and eventually mastery of the subject.
By the time the students start Year11, we expect them to be able to read the works of Roman poets and historians in the original language. We focus on turning the students into discerning readers who can identify various devices used by these authors to influence the response of the audience, and we consider how that response would compare with that of a modern day audience. This not only enables students to tackle GCSE exams with great success, but also prepares them for the A-level course. Post 16, we build students’ ability to analyse a previously unseen piece of literature, and we help them to compose Latin which not only contains accurate syntax and morphology, but which also reflects the idiom of the language. The students also learn to understand the historical context and develop an appreciation for more complex literature from a wider range of authors and genres, including political discussions.
Latin Curriculum Maps
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Yr07 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24
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download_for_offlineYr07 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr08 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr08 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr09 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr09 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr10 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr10 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr11 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr11 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr13 Latin Curriculum Map download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr13 Latin Curriculum Map
Classical Civilisation Intent
After an initial introduction to ancient civilisations through following a Latin language course in Year 7, the majority of students from Year 8 onwards are able to continue with their studies of the Romans and receive an introduction to the Greek world through Classical Civilisation. Our teachers help the students not only to appreciate different civilisations, but also encourage an understanding of the impact of those ancient cultures on the modern world. Our students develop an enquiring mind by being introduced not only to new concepts but also by reviewing and reflecting on a wide range of primary evidence, both literary and visual. To support these aims, they study specific topics that cover a range of aspects of everyday life in ancient Pompeii and Athens, complete activities incorporating a discussion of the evidence, learn key technical terms and take part in a quizzes and assessments on a regular basis.
At the end of Year 7, approximately 90 students begin their study of Classical Civilisation following our own course. The Year 8 course focuses on the everyday life of the Romans living in Pompeii and also in Roman Britain, and provides an opportunity to look at a range of topics, the available evidence and to gain an understanding of the impact that these aspects of life have had on their lives today. The Year 9 course introduces students to the Greek world and draws on famous events and the development of the ancient city of Athens. The whole course is designed not only to provide information but also to encourage the students to discuss the validity of primary sources, to think about the motives that drove ancient civilisations to act in the way that they did, to develop confidence in presenting their opinions and to engage with the civilisations that have influenced their own.
Our teachers have often engendered such an interest in the ancient world with our students that a consistently good number choose to continue with their studies to GCSE level and beyond. The course in Years 10 and 11, enables the students to gain a more in-depth knowledge of the ancient world. It also encourages them to compare and contrast Greek and Roman ideals and to reflect on their significance both to the ancient and the modern world. It enables them to comprehend what the Romans themselves thought about their own lives through the study of poems and letters. Post 16, we focus on four key areas all of which draw upon departmental strengths and which we believe hold the greatest appeal for our students. We aim to build further the ability of students to develop an analytical mind, to draw links between subjects, to appreciate the influence of the classical world on every aspect of modern life from literary genres, to theatrical performance and even to politics.
Classical Civilisation Curriculum Maps
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Yr08 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24
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download_for_offlineYr08 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr09 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr09 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr10 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr10 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr11 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr11 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr12 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
download_for_offlineYr12 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24
- Yr13 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
- Yr09 Classical Civilisation Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline
- Yr08 Latin Curriculum Map Sept 24 download_for_offline