Latin is taught to pupils throughout the school and AS and A2 Classical Civilisation is part of the Sixth Form curriculum. In addition the Head of Department teaches a course to groups of Sixth Formers who wish to gain an insight into the Classical world as part of the General Studies programme.
A-Level
In a sense all the hard work put in over several years leading to GCSE actually pays off when pupils study Latin in the Sixth Form, for they can now start to read and appreciate a diversity of Latin literature as the Romans wrote it. Throughout the course we read as widely as possible what the Romans wrote about their gods and myths, about themselves and their history and how they perceived what was around them (be it the marvels of nature, the delights and perils of falling in love, Britons wearing trousers - not togas! - or the dangers facing their empire).
The course is demanding and pupils will really need to have gained at least a grade B at GCSE to cope with this Advanced GCE course. We follow the OCR specification which in total comprises six units, of which units 1-3 form the AS specification and units 4-6 the A2 specification:
Unit 1: Unprepared Translation
There is one passage of prose in Latin. OCR will issue a Defined Vocabulary List (of about 1,000 words) for use in preparing pupils for this unit.
Unit 2: Literature 'A' (Commentary)
For this unit pupils will study one prescribed text and must answer two questions on it in the examination. The questions asked will test pupils' comprehension and appreciation of the text that they have studied.
Unit 3: Literature 'B' (Translation and Essay)
The paper is divided into two sections. In the first section, pupils are required to translate two passages from the prescribed text set for Unit 2. In the second section, pupils will have one essay question to answer on the prescribed text.
Unit 4: Unprepared Translation
This paper will consist of one passage of prose and one of verse, both of which will have to be translated into English. The passages are taken from two named authors or genres. No account is taken of the Defined Vocabulary list in use for Unit 1. Pupils will also be required to scan two lines of the verse passage.
Unit 5: Literature (Commentary and Essay)
Pupils will not be allowed to answer questions on the same text that they will have studied for Units 2 and 3. Therefore, pupils will study one more set book on which they will be asked two questions, which will require the pupils to explain the context and literary features of the passages chosen, and in addition answer one essay question.
Unit 6: Composition/Comprehension
At the outset of the course we shall decide, in light of the preferences expressed by the pupils, to work towards either Section 'A', which consists of a passage of English prose to be translated into Latin, or Section 'B', which consists of questions set on a single passage of Latin and is designed to test linguistic knowledge and comprehension.
Latin may be chosen for A Level in one of the regular combinations e.g. with History, English or French, or simply because it is one of an individual pupil's best subjects. If it is taken further at university, Latin can be studied for a degree on its own, or in combination, for example, with French or English, or with Greek. Universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, now accept students to read Classics who are beginners in Greek.
Throughout the year we make every effort to see any productions of relevant plays in Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford or London, to visit museums or go to current exhibitions or attend lectures. The department plans a biennial overseas trip to visit classical sites and tries to visit Roman archaeological sites in this country either in the locality (for example, Bath, Cirencester and Chedworth villa) or ones further afield, such as Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall.