Latin

All pupils joining the School in First Form will study Latin for at least one year. This is to give them a firm grounding in grammar and an understanding of the mechanics of language. We find that giving the pupils the opportunity to at least taste a classical education has an inspiring effect on them: helping them to become better, more precise communicators in their own language, whilst opening the door to an appreciation of the roots of Western civilisation.

The First Form follow the exploits of Caecilius and his family in Pompeii as they get to grips with case and verb tense endings. Elements of Roman civilisation are introduced along the way, including gladiators, the theatre and politics. Of course, tragedy is always lurking in the background as Vesuvius is about to erupt…

Pupils who continue into the Second and Third Form are then given a much deeper experience of the language and its rhetorical devices as their odyssey continues. The first tentative steps into Virgil’s Aeneid come in the Second Form as pupils develop an understanding of one of the wonders of classical literature. By the time the pupils are in the Third Form, they will have already covered much of early Roman history and myth and will be fully at home translating decently large chunks of Latin.

KS3 Latin is taught by Mr Williams, the Head of Languages, who has taught Latin in some of the leading independent schools in the country. He has a passion for Virgil, a love-hate relationship with Caesar and an obsession for grammar.