THE CLASSICS DEPARTMENT is responsible for teaching three subjects on the curriculum: Latin, Classical Greek and Classical Civilisation.

The classical languages are highly valued as intellectual disciplines and as an unrivalled route to literacy at the highest level. This subject involves not only linguistic and literary understanding, but also knowledge and appreciation of the huge influence the ancient classical world has on our own. It is thanks to the Greeks and Romans that we have drama, philosophy, history, law, science and medicine as we understand them today; classical Greek and Roman ideals of art and architecture still form the baseline of our artistic standards.

In a world increasingly dominated by political and economic global concerns, we aim to give our students the solid cultural and linguistic background that will enable them to make calm, sensible, thoughtful decisions about their futures.

“No other subject is so appropriate to every age, every place and every time.”

— Cicero, 62 B.C.E.

We aim to prove the truth of those words.

“A person with no knowledge of the Classical world will be forever a shy guest at the feast of the world’s culture.”

— James Joyce

Our Staff

Miss Barnwell (Head of Department)
Miss Cohen
Ms Banner

LATIN

Latin is studied by all six forms in Years 7 and 8. At the end of Year 8, GCSE option choices are made. Numbers of boys opting for Latin have remained healthy over the last few years, and the A level course is available in the sixth form.

CLASSICAL GREEK

Classical Greek is available for those who wish to take an extra subject at GCSE. The classes are voluntary and begin towards the end of Year 8. Those interested are given the opportunity to try some taster sessions. Regular lessons take place during one hour after school each week and one half-hour lunchtime slot (both decided by the dictates of the school calendar and in consultation with the students). The combination of Latin and Greek is the foundation of Classics as studied at university and is the ideal way of approaching the study of the ancient Greek and Roman world.

CLASSICAL CIVILISATION

Classical Civilisation is available as an A level to all boys since knowledge of Greek and Latin is not required. Classical Civilisation allows students to explore the people, places and ideas of the Classical World and to consider a culture so different from ours yet with which we have so much in common. Topics studied may include the Roman emperors, the Iliad, Pompeii, the Odyssey and Greek tragedy.

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ENRICHMENT

The department likes to take one major visit abroad per year, together with smaller visits in this country. In recent years we have gone to Italy, Greece and Turkey. One very popular option is to visit Italy in the spring, taking in Rome, Pompeii, Vesuvius and Herculaneum. One time we even attended a football match in Rome, went to a gladiator school and made proper Italian pizza and ice-cream!

In the local area we make regular theatre and museum visits, as well as an annual appearance at the local Classical quiz with neighbouring schools. From time to time we make a three-day visit to Hadrian's Wall.

There is a Classics Club, at which speakers lead discussions on Classical matters in a relaxed manner.

LATIN

Key Stage 3

The Roman world and the Latin language has inspired many great thinkers, influenced many languages and cultures and trained intelligent minds for generations. The Key Stage 3 course opens up the classical world and language for students of Year 7 and 8.

Year 7

The Year 7 course is an introduction into the Latin language and Roman life. Book I of the Cambridge Latin Course will be used. This Course is divided into several stages.

Students will gain an understanding of how Latin influences English in the first few weeks of the course. The learning of the Latin language then begins in earnest with the first stage of the Cambridge Latin Course. By the end of the year Stage 10 of the Course will be reached.

The learning of the language will be interspersed with learning about the daily life of the Romans in Pompeii. Topics include dining, theatre, gladiatorial contests and the plan of a Roman town.

Students will be encouraged to draw links between the ancient languages and the modern languages, the ancient world with the modern world.

Year 8

The Year 8 course builds upon what is learnt in Year 7, in terms of Latin language and Roman life. Books I and II of the Cambridge Latin Course will be used.

In Year 8 students will begin to translate more complex sentences which include the relative clauses. Students will also understand more about how the case system for nouns functions; this will develop the students' ability in analysing words at a sentence level in any language.

The learning of the language will be interspersed with learning about the destruction of Pompeii, Roman Britain and Roman Alexandria.

Students will be encouraged to consider how Roman culture and rule affected various parts of the Empire and to consider how the Romans influenced British culture.

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1
VOCABULARY
EXCEEDING: Students have an exceptionally strong command of vocabulary which goes beyond words learnt in Stages 1 - 12.

SECURE: Students have a strong command of the vocabulary learnt in Stages 1-12.

DEVELOPING: Students have a growing command of vocabulary encountered in the Stages covered.
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NOUNS, ADJECTIVES AND CASES
EXCEEDING: Students use and explain the use of Nominative, Accusative and Dative cases in translation both from Latin to English and from English to Latin. They are also able to identify nouns in their correct declensions and use the concept of noun and adjective agreement.

SECURE: Students can use and explain Nominative, Accusative and Dative cases in translation, more fluently into English than into Latin. They also show some knowledge of noun and adjective agreement and knowledge of the correct declensions with some accuracy.

DEVELOPING: Students have knowledge of the Nominative and Accusative cases and the function of changing noun endings. Their knowledge of noun and adjective tables is not complete or secure.
3
VERBS AND TENSES
EXCEEDING: Students are able to identify, translate and analyse all six persons indicative active of the present, perfect, and imperfect tenses of all regular verbs on the word list. They are also able to compose into Latin using the present, perfect and imperfect tenses. They demonstrate outstanding knowledge of the present and imperfect tenses of the irregular verb, sum.

SECURE: Students are able to identify and translate accurately all six persons indicative active of the present, perfect, and imperfect tenses of all regular verbs on the word list and the irregular verb sum.

DEVELOPING: Students are able to identify and translate at least four persons in the indicative active of the present tense and identify the 3rd person of the perfect and imperfect tenses of regular verbs on the word list.
4
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LATIN AND ENGLISH
EXCEEDING: Students are able to identify appropriate English derivations of Latin words on all occasions. They achieve properly structured, idiomatic English translations of Latin. They also show awareness of such Latin features, when composing into Latin, of verbs at the end of sentences and adjectives coming after nouns.

SECURE: Students achieve idiomatic English translations when reminded and prompted. They are usually able to find English derivatives of Latin words. Composition into Latin will be technically accurate most of the time but will not normally include refinements such as verbs at the end of sentences.

DEVELOPING: Students show an awareness of some differences between Latin and English. They are able to compose simple Latin sentences, but these will often be technically inaccurate and will be Latin put into an English word order.
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AWARENESS OF CULTURE
EXCEEDING: Students have a thorough knowledge of the social, political, archaeological and literary background of the ancient world. They are able to select relevant evidence and explain their point with clarity. They can also recall any narrative detail from a text in English without reference to the text itself.

SECURE: Students have a good knowledge of ancient sources and will be able to explain the context. They can express an opinion with some evidence. Their knowledge will be functional.

DEVELOPING: Students show limited knowledge of the context of ancient sources. They are able to select and comment upon the sources, but often without a clear or supported opinion.

Key Stage 4

GCSE

The aim of the Latin course is to allow students to reach a stage where they have the language and the skills to appreciate texts written by the Romans. These texts allow students to appreciate the people and places of the ancient world through some first-hand accounts.

The GCSE examination board is Eduqas. There are three papers:

  1. Latin language – 50%
  2. Latin literature and sources – 30%
  3. Latin literature narratives – 20%
Within the language paper, there is an option to compose three short simple sentences into Latin, or to answer some comprehension questions. This option holds  10% of the marks for this paper (and so 5% of the GCSE as a whole). A special list of about 80 words, all of which are also on the main word list, is prescribed for this option.
 
All students, from the first lesson of KS4 until the final lesson of year 11, are required to attempt an exam-style composition into Latin at the start of every lesson.

Year 9

The Year 9 course builds upon what is learnt in Years 7 and 8. Books II and III of the Cambridge Latin Course will be used and by the end of the year Stage 28 is normally reached.

By the end of Year 9 students will know the formation and function of all the noun cases. Students will also know all the uses of subjunctive. Students will have explored topics including Roman military, religion and administration.

From Year 9, students will begin to learn the prescribed list of vocabulary and literature required for GCSE. The learning of words will allow students to draw links between Latin words and their English derivation; while the learning of literature will allow students to experience at first hand Roman ideas and views. During Year 9, students will also have studied about half of the prescribed GCSE literature.

Year 10

The Year 10 course builds upon what is learnt in previous years. Book IV of the Cambridge Latin Course will be used and by the end of the year Stage 34 is normally reached.

By the end of Year 10 students will know the formation and function of all the tenses required for GCSE, as well as deponent verbs. Students will have explored topics including the City of Rome, ancient philosophy and the social classes of Rome. Students will have studied all the literature and vocabulary required for the GCSE by the end of the year.

Year 11

Year 11 will be the culmination of the GCSE Latin courses. All the language and literature learnt hitherto will be reviewed and consolidated for GCSE.

The course book Latin Stories: A GCSE Reader provides many texts in the format of the language papers; this allows for practising translation skills as well as opening students to a breadth of Latin texts. The course book Essential GCSE Latin allows for a systematic revision of all the language required for GCSE.

CLASSICAL GREEK

Classical Greek is the forerunner of Modern Greek, which still strongly resembles its ancient equivalent in many ways. It was widely spoken throughout the eastern Mediterranean from the time of Alexander the Great and continued to be the most commonly spoken language in the eastern half of the Roman Empire. Famous Greek authors include Homer, Sophocles and Plato; Greek is also the language of the New Testament.

GCSE

This subject has always been studied at Wilson's outside of the normal timetable. Greek teaching takes place after school and in lunch hours; the course is intended to last three years. This is a highly intensive course that will appeal particularly to those with good levels of linguistic ability. The course we follow is Classical Greek to GCSE.

The study of Latin is not a requirement for taking up Classical Greek though the studies of the two languages and cultures are complementary.

The board of the GCSE examination is OCR. It consists of four papers:

  • Classical Greek language 1 – Mythology and domestic life
  • Classical Greek language 2 – History
  • Classical Greek prose literature
  • Classical Greek verse literature

AS and A-level

Anyone who is interested in studying this subject to A level should speak to a member of the Classics staff.

CLASSICAL CIVILISATION

Classical Civilisation is available as an A-level to all boys since knowledge of Greek and Latin is not required. The subject is unique in that it offers a holistic approach to a culture without the need of studying its language. It should appeal to the curious and serves to develop the mind.

The examination board used is OCR.

Year 12

AS examination
 
Module 1: The world of the hero
Module 2: Greek Theatre

Students are expected to show their knowledge of the area of the Classical world studied within the module and be able to offer an informed opinion on the topic.

Year 13

A2 examination
 
Module 1: Virgil and the world of the hero
Module 2: Greek Theatre

Students are expected to show their knowledge of the area of the Classical world studied within the module and be able to offer an informed opinion on the topic.

Beyond A-level

Many students of Classics and Latin go on to apply for courses within the subject (e.g. Ancient History, Classics, Classical Civilisation, Latin and MFL) at major university and are normally successful. Latin is also beneficial for students of languages and humanities in that it trains students to think, analyse and consider texts. The study of the language is also beneficial in understanding the terminology of law and medicine, among other subjects.

Students should also explore other ways of broadening their classical horizon, such as the Wells Latin Summer School, Bryanston Greek Summer School and Repton Classical Civilisation Summer School: all schools run by the Joint Association of Classical Teachers Summer Schools Trust.

Wilson’s School

A boys’ grammar school in the London Borough of Sutton (UK), Wilson’s School is:

  • committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment
  • a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no. 7536970). Registered office: Mollison Drive, Wallington, Surrey SM6 9JW
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