Classics

The Removes & Fifths

Latin
 

Boys who opt for Latin to GCSE are taught for four periods per cycle. The course enables them to develop an understanding and appreciation of the language, literature and civilisation of the Romans. Latin and Greek are the only language GCSEs which require a literature text to be studied, and it is through this study that a deeper appreciation of the cultural achievement of the ancient Romans can be developed. All of our candidates at GCSE will sit two language papers (25% and 25% respectively), along with the prose text paper (25%). The fourth paper for our candidates is usually the verse text (25%) but we may on occasion feel that Roman Life topics (25%) is a preferable option for a whole set, or indeed for individual boys. In any event, the flexibility offered by the syllabus adds to the appeal of this highly respected course.

Throughout the two years, the emphasis is on reading and working with the language in a number of different ways, not only to bring the level of language competence up to GCSE standard but also to ensure that the set text can be treated as a piece of literature rather than a linguistic exercise. The aim is to read the literature in the context of Roman society and history, and for this reason plenty of background work on relevant topics is also undertaken.

Further details of the OCR syllabus can be found at: Latin specification