The Classics department aims to enable pupils to develop an enthusiasm and understanding of the Classical World, to extract and analyse information, to develop their knowledge and application of the language and to give personal responses about the literature and culture.
We study Classical Civilisation because the study of the history and culture of the ancient world makes a superb foundation for the world of work. This subject demands analytical skills, breadth of view, sympathy for other cultures and the capacity to construct rigorous arguments from evidence.
Year 9
In Year 9, selected girls are offered the opportunity to study Classical Civilisation for the first time. This involves the study of the lives and works of the Romans, Egyptians and the Ancient Greeks but requires no knowledge of Latin or Ancient Greek. Topics studied in Year 9 include the Greek Gods, Greek Myths, Roman Britain, Roman religion, the Egyptians, Greek theatre and Sparta.
GCSE
Girls can then opt to continue their studies at GCSE level in Years 10-11 and this has proved to be a popular option subject choice. The GCSE is made up of 2 units: Women in the Ancient World and the Homeric World, and there are two exams only at the end of the two year course.
Co-Curricular
Every week, Classics Society is run by members of the Sixth Form where they present interesting stories about ancient myths and history to pupils from year 7 upwards at lunchtime. Classics Clinic also runs on Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtimes where Sixth Form students and teachers help pupils with difficult topics and to catch up with work which they might have missed from their lessons.
A range of day trips are also run for the following year groups:
- Year 7 – Visit to the British Museum to explore Roman and Greek daily life
- Year 8 – Visit at school by the Actors of Dionysus to explore ancient drama
- Year 9 – Visit to Butser Ancient Farm and Fishbourne Palace to explore
Roman British culture - Year 10 – Visit to the British Museum to explore women in the ancient world
and Roman Britain - Year 12 and 13 – Visits to conferences on Roman epic and Greek theatre
Residential trips are also run every year or every other year to places such as Rome,
the Bay of Naples and Athens for students in year 8 and above.