academic

Classics Department

Contact: Ms A H Jacobs

***NEW!***

Click here for information on Classical Civilisation

GCSE       and         A Level


What is Classics and why study it?

View from the top of Via SacraClassics is the study of the civilisations of Rome and Ancient Greece. Traditionally this has been done by way of the original languages, but now increasingly people are reading and enjoying the literature of Greece and Rome by way translations. Therefore, in addition to Latin and Greek, in the VIth Form we also offer Classical Civilisation. Of course, there is far more to Greece and Rome than literature: other areas embraced by the discipline of Classics include, for example, History, Philosophy, Politics, Art and Architecture, Science and Technology, Medicine, Mathematics - and in fact just about anything you might care to mention. Classics has something for everyone, and besides its being great fun and very rewarding for its own sake, there are few areas of modern life and understanding which it does not enrich and enhance.

 

The Aims of the Classics Department

The Classics Department aims to develop a knowledge and understanding of Classical Greece and Rome through a stimulating and enjoyable study of their languages, literature, history, art and ideas, and thereby to enhance its pupils’ analytic and linguistic powers and their cultural perceptions.

Teaching

The Classics department has four full-time members of staff and is located in one of the new wings of the main School building.

  • All First and Second Form boys learn Latin (three periods per week, two homeworks).About two-thirds ofSecond Form boys opt to continue with Latin in the Third Form, where they are joined by most of our 13+ entry from prep. schools.In the Fourth and Fifth Forms, Latin is an optional subject for GCSE. Typically, about forty boys choose it. Classical Greek can be studied as an optional subject from theThird Form onwards. Numbers are generally small and classes therefore enjoy a good staff-pupil ratio.
  • GCSE results in both Latin and Greek are excellent, with particularly high percentages of A and A* grades.

Numbers taking A-Level courses in Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation vary from year to year, but results are pleasing and our pupils regularly go on to read Classics at Oxford and other distinguished universities.

Prizes

Hadrian's Villa beneath QuadrporticusIn addition to school subject prizes, the Department awards a prize each year to the winner ofthe 1st Year Latin Reading Competition, and also runs each year an essay competition (the Page Prize for Classical Scholarship) for members of the LVIth Form. The winner of this prestigious competition, which is judged externally by a notable academic, is substantially rewarded, and provision is made also for acknowledging worthy entries which nonetheless do not win outright.

Extra Curricular

The Classics Society is open to all members of the school and care is taken to vary activities so as to ensure that it caters for all age groups. It meets every Thursday lunch-time, and there are regular excursions. There are also other Extra Curricular events held each term.

Further Information

Anyone requiring more information regarding Classics at Hampton is invited to contact the Head of Classics, Ms A H Jacobs, who can be reached via the school.

Latin and Greek Scholarship examinations