Classics
Year 7 - all pupils follow an introductory Latin course for one period a week and also do a 'taster' unit of Ancient Greek in the second half of the Summer Term. Classical Civilisation is studied through Drama for a second period each week, based on Greek theatre in one term, episodes from Homer's Odyssey and Iliad in term two and Ovid and Mythology in term three. Some girls will have already studied Latin in the 'Minimus' club at the Marist Preparatory school.
Years 8 and 9 - pupils who are in set one for English automatically study Latin and benefit from the awareness of vocabulary and understanding of language which a Latin course provides. Pupils in other sets can if they wish follow the course in a weekly lunchtime session and continue to GCSE later in the 'options'.
Years 10 and 11 - pupils can choose to study the subject for GCSE and in Years 12 and 13 to AS and A2 Level. Beginners Greek is on offer in the Sixth Form and Classical Civilisation can be taken to AS and A2 level from 'scratch'. The Classics department also offers GCSE and AS Italian, which is particularly suitable for pupils who have previously studied Latin and can cope with a GCSE in one year.
In all years except 7 and 8, Latin is taught through the Oxford Latin Course, which is modern and up-to-date, but still maintains the linguistic rigour of more traditional courses.