Classics
Latin is taught from Year 5 upwards.
The subject is treated in a traditional grammatically-based manner, but the main emphasis is placed as early as possible on reading connected pieces of Latin as stories. English-into-Latin is encouraged at all levels in preparation for Scholarships, and Winchester and Common Entrance. At all stages background information is brought in (with increasing formality) so that pupils have the opportunity to appreciate the different cultural aspects of the Roman way of life, as well as hearing the Greek Mythology stories. It is also aimed to connect the language work with its relationship to their studies in English (spelling and derivations, etc.) and other subjects, including (most obviously) French. Regular 'expeditions' are undertaken in tandem with the History Department to sites such as Fishbourne and Roman Bath.
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It is our aim to promote the subject not as a 'dead language' but the continuation of a culture with unbroken roots from Roman times up to modern Italy and the countries of the Empire as they exist today.
Greek is introduced in a boy’s final year; it is taken as a Common Entrance subject at Level 1 by those boys whose Latin ability has allowed them to spend a lesson a week on a second Classical Language. The Scholarship form also experiences some Greek; if individual pupils wish to include it in their examination offering, work outside class-time can be arranged.
Nicholas Sudbury