Classics

Head of Department: Ken Siviter. Email: K-Siviter@epsomcollege.org.uk

The Classics Department combines a high standard of classical scholarship and pupil-centred learning at all levels in the school. Latin and Classical Greek are taught up to university entrance standards and all courses at GCSE and A level focus not only upon attaining rigorous standards in language and literature, but also include interesting and wide-ranging elements of historical background that enhance the study of both languages.

Public examination results in the Classics Department reflect a high level of achievement and are very much in line with the College's academic success rate in recent years.

Universities and employers recognise the value of Classical languages and several students have successfully combined Latin with a wide variety of Arts and Science subjects at A level before moving on to university careers.

Middle Fourth and Upper Fourth (GCSE Latin)

The current GCSE Latin specification enables pupils to follow an interesting and varied course over six terms. After four terms, pupils sit for the 'Short Course' qualification which comprises the following two modules:

Module 1: Language 1: Vocabulary and syntax course leading to an examination in January of the Upper Fourth year. The examination focuses upon stories from Mythology and draws upon comprehension and translation skills.

Module 2: Sources for Latin: A wide variety of written and visual sources are studied in English, enabling pupils to investigate and understand Roman civilisation and lifestyles. The examination, also taken in January of the Upper Fourth year, requires pupils to interpret these same sources and draw balanced conclusions.

For the remaining two terms in the Upper Fourth year, pupils take two further modules, as follows:

Module 3: Language 2: This paper is an extension of Language 1. The focus is upon Roman History. Examination comprises one passage for comprehension and one for translation.

Module : Prose Set Texts: This module focuses upon the study of a small selection Latin prose authors, embracing language, historical and cultural backgrounds.   

Successful completion of these four modules will give pupils a full qualification in GCSE Latin.

Fifth Form (AS Latin)

Pupils who wish to continue with their Latin studies beyond GCSE level take one of the two AS Latin modules in their Fifth Form year. Examination of this module takes place in the summer of the Fifth Form.

The AS module studied in the Fifth Form extends pupils' understanding of linguistics. Prescribed vocabulary and syntax are studied, leading to one examination which requires pupils to translate one long passage, adapted from a Latin author and one shorter passage from Cicero, again adapted for this level.

Lower Sixth (AS Latin)

In this year, pupils can take the second AS level module. The second module focuses on a study of two Latin authors - one prose, one verse. For 2012 onwards, the prose author is Cicero and his prosecution of the corrupt Roman governor Verres; the verse author is Ovid, involving a selection from his poems ‘Amores'.

Upper Sixth (A2 Latin)

In the Upper Sixth, pupils take two papers.

Paper 1: Prose Author and Unprepared Translation: This paper combines detailed study of one Latin Prose Author and one unseen from a prescribed prose author. Vocabulary is accumulated during the year, enabling pupils to translate the unprepared passage from a base of experience and knowledge of the prescribed author. For 2012, the set text is Tacitus and the prescribed unseen author is Caesar.

Paper 2: Verse Author and Unprepared Translation: This paper is similar to the Prose paper. A verse author is Virgil: Aeneid Book 1 and the unseen author is Ovid: Elegiacs.

Classical Greek (GCSE and Advanced levels)

Classical Greek can be studied in ‘Activity Time' during the week. The format of this examination follows that of the GCSE Latin course, ie two ‘Short Course' modules are taken after four terms; two further modules can be studied subsequently, taking pupils up to full GCSE standard.

Classical Greek is also available up to A2 level.