Classics, Latin and Greek
Introduction
St Albans School is the perfect setting for pupils to explore the origins of democracy, literature, and drama as they dive into the world of the Greeks and Romans. Embarking on this linguistic journey enables them to make etymological connections with modern languages and analyse the importance of language and rhetoric to manipulate, persuade and inspire. Becoming proficient in Classical languages allows pupils to access Classical literature, to understand their values, mores and cultures, their ideas of love and society; this provides pupils with the tools to reflect critically on their world by juxtaposing it with the Classical world, exploring concepts of xenophobia, misogyny and imperialism, which are still prevalent and relevant today.
Lower School
By studying the life of Caecilius and his family in Pompeii, in the Cambridge Latin Course, pupils become confident in the rudiments of the Latin language and learn the concepts of an inflected language, using translation, derivations and English into Latin to develop linguistic and lexical fluency. They follow Caecilius and his household through their daily life, shopping in the Forum, enjoying their leisure time at the baths, the theatre and the amphitheatre, and finally developing their forensic analytical skills, uncovering the mounds of hardened ash and solidified mud to explore the ancient city of Pompeii and its cosmopolitan inhabitants. In the Second Form, pupils exchange the Bay of Naples for Mount Olympus as the de Romanis textbook continues to develop their linguistic skills and use the media of archaeological evidence, inscriptions, literature and sculpture to delve into the lives of heroes and gods, exploring what the Romans really felt about these immoral immortals and developing their skills of analysis, critical thinking and evaluation.
Third Form
Pupils can continue their study of Latin with de Romanis Book II, balancing their more complex knowledge of lexis and grammar with a foray into the Roman world of power, influence and empire. Pupils develop their linguistic skills using GCSE formatted passages and vocabulary alongside their knowledge of the history of Rome, exploring how the mythical and fratricidal founder Romulus paved the way for the establishment of the Roman monarchy. Pupils learn about the importance of rhetoric and military success for Roman leaders, exploring the failings of Cicero and Julius Caesar which enabled Augustus to become the first emperor, using novel techniques of propaganda and marketing to build his successful empire.
GCSE
Pupils can choose one or both of Latin and Greek GCSE. The courses are identical in content with an equal balance of language and literature. They develop their translation skills, grammatical and syntactical knowledge and become confident at translating English into Latin or Greek. There are two literature papers, one verse and one prose, and pupils read a range of authors including Ovid, Virgil, Tacitus, Pliny, Homer, Euripides and Herodotus, learning the skills of literary analysis.
A Level
In the Sixth Form, Latin and Greek are available at A Level and pupils continue their study of language and literature. The pupils strengthen their linguistic ability and study a range of Classical authors, balancing their skills of translation, and comprehension with literary analysis and scansion. They examine literary influences and inter and intra textuality to assess the development of literature, recognising the impact of political and social events on their texts. Authors studied include Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, Tacitus, and Livy and for the Graecists, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Homer, Herodotus and Xenophon. Classical Civilisation is another A Level option, affording pupils the opportunity to study literature in translation and examine the history and culture of the ancient world by reading its drama, tragedy, comedy and philosophy, and studying its fragmentary evidence and visual artefacts. The course comprises three modules: Greek Theatre, the World of the Hero and Love and Relationships and equips the pupils with the tools of evaluation, critical reflection and flexibility of thought as they challenge their preconceptions and become independent learners.
Hylocomian Society
The School’s Classical society provides a plethora of hands-on opportunities such as interacting with the Roman Soldiers and exploring artefacts from Verulamium in KS3, and for the older pupils, theatre trips, visiting speakers, trips to exhibitions and museums, presenting symposia, producing our Classical publicatons, vox Populi and plura cognosce, showcasing musical talents at our Classical soirees and enthusing the younger years through the innovations and creativity of Classics Club. There are also the legendary odyssean trips to Italy and Greece in alternate years.
University & Careers
We support our students with their Classics university applications through Academic Challenge seminars, links with Bryanston Greek Summer School, details of Oxbridge Classical competitions and Taster Days, connecting them with OA’s who are studying Classics and finally through rigorous Oxbridge preparation.
Read our latest Classics Bulletin here:
Read our Classical publication, vox populi
Read our Classics Bulletin, plura cognosce, written and produced by Fourth Form pupils
