The Classics Department

Stowe's Classics Department aims to share the delights of the classical world with as many as possible. It does this by emphasising traditional academic rigour, including linguistic accuracy and learning, along with an eagerness to enhance teaching with modern methods, such as ICT. The Department occupies a suite of three well-equipped classrooms, together with its own Classics Library and storerooms. The Classical Society has a programme of visiting speakers and also arranges visits to plays, museums and archaeological sites in the UK, and trips abroad to Greece and Italy.

Head of Department: M J Bevington

Classical Civilisation GCSE

Content
Classical Civilisation is made up from a wonderfully varied and enjoyable selection of topics, covering a very wide range. Popular choices include epic tales like Odysseus' travels, Greek comedies and the theatre, athletic competitions, the story of Aeneas' escape from Troy and his voyage to Italy and life in the buried city of Pompeii. All the Greek and Latin literature is in translation.

Assessment
There are five short topics for GCSE, each worth 20%. Four are taken as exams and one as coursework. The coursework is usually two short pieces or one longer project. The exams are mainly of short factual questions and a longer essay on each topic. It can be taken at both Higher and Foundation tiers.

Expectations
Classical Civilisation is as easy and demanding as most other GCSE subjects. Some enjoy the topics at a straightforward level, while others appreciate the highest standards of scholarship. Classical Civilisation is, of course, a highly regarded subject in its own right, both at GCSE and beyond.

Benefits of Classical Civilisation
The world and literature of Greece and Rome includes the very best to be studied. For this reason, of course, it is rightly known as 'Classics'. The classical world provides an excellent basis for enjoying our European culture. This is the course to take if there is a desire to study great stories, moving plays, stunning buildings and sculpture, power politics, social experiments, athletics, gladiators and chariot-racing - in fact almost every important part of life that can be imagined. At the same time it develops key skills of comprehension, analysis, appreciation and self-expression, all vital for any future study or work.
It leads on naturally to the popular AS and A-Level courses in Classical Civilisation or to one of the growing number of excellent degree courses in classical subjects. It combines very well with most other subjects.

Classical Greek GCSE

If we inherit most of our culture and language from the Romans, they in turn derived theirs mainly from the Greeks. Within a few centuries the Greeks invented the origins of almost all our western culture. The key to understanding this is their language and literature.

The elegance, flexibility and precision of the Greek language make it highly enjoyable and rewarding to learn, while the stories read for GCSE can include some of the powerful myths, the exciting adventures of Odysseus' epic voyage or some part of their turbulent history. Like Latin, the GCSE now provides vocabulary lists in advance, so the examination is fully manageable for those prepared to learn.

Half of the exam is based on language work, using the defined vocabulary list. The other half involves a short piece of poetry which is prepared beforehand, and either a short piece of prose writing or a topic from Greek Civilisation. This last element can be offered as coursework.

Greek combines excellently with Latin, as well as all other subjects. Greek at GCSE, AS and A-Level gives great standing academically and opens up some of the best classics courses at university. It is a highly enjoyable subject which will appeal to those who like intellectual challenges and rewards.

Latin GCSE

Course development
For the last few years, most of the Latin being studied up to GCSE at Stowe has concentrated on an excellent blend of stories from Roman life and its superb literature. Half of the course is devoted to reading exciting accounts of love and intrigue, parts of letters and scenes from dinner parties et cetera. The other half is made up of a piece of prepared coursework on almost any aspect of the Roman world that can be explored (worth 20%), and a language test designed to be user-friendly (worth 30%).

Expectations
Gone are the days of obscure, dry grammar and awkward translations designed to trick the unwary. Straightforward comprehension and vocabulary lists are used to make the linguistic study much more manageable and enjoyable. The high proportion of prepared work (70%) and the vocabulary lists for the other 30% mean that almost anyone who is prepared to try can succeed and find it fun.

Benefits of Latin
Latin still provides one of the very best opportunities to develop skills in literature and language. It gives a marvellous insight into how other European languages work and the foundations of our European culture. So it is ideal for those interested in law, languages, history, literature or philosophy. It is also brilliant for improving powers of analysis; many of the greatest scientists and mathematicians have valued their Latin as the best possible intellectual training. As such it will enhance a Stoic's way of thinking and use of words for the rest of their life.

Latin at GCSE is an excellent preparation for the AS and A-Level courses in Latin and Classical Civilisation. There are growing numbers of exciting degree courses at universities too.

Latin and Greek A Level

To the surprise of some non-classicists, Latin and Greek at A level and Degree level have not only retained their popularity amazingly well in recent years, but classical scholarship in both the UK, Europe and especially the USA has never been more vigorous and exciting. From outstanding computer programmes to reconstructions of Greek triremes, classical scholars have been revolutionising our means of studying the twin foundations of our European civilisation. At its heart, of course, remains the linguistic knowledge necessary to read Greek and Latin texts in the original, with all the literary and intellectual skills that this requires and develops.

The AS and A-Level examinations are also adapting to the new ways of studying the languages. Composition into Latin or Greek is optional and there are vocabulary lists for unseen translation at AS. Nevertheless the language will appeal primarily to those who have already gained a good grade at GCSE and enjoy a rewarding challenge.

The AS and A2 examinations each consist of two units. Half the units are based on set texts, with a growing emphasis on understanding the context and background of the literature as well as its translation and critical appreciation. The other units are language papers with appropriate help in vocabulary.
Latin makes an excellent combination with almost any other A-Level. Traditionally English, French, History and Mathematics have been the most usual, but Art, Physics and Chemistry have also been combined with it in recent years at Stowe. Greek is usually available by special arrangement in any of the four columns and can thus be taken with any other subject.

Both Oxford and Cambridge offer some of the largest and most varied classics degree courses in the world. Many other universities in the UK and elsewhere provide a similarly wide range of excellent classical courses. Latin and Greek, however, also provide an obvious basis from which to start a degree in, for example, Law, Philosophy or Theology. A degree in the classical languages is, of course, still regarded very highly by employers. Classicists tend to enter as broad a spectrum of careers as any other arts graduates, including Accountancy, Business, Teaching, Law, the Services, Government Departments, the Media, the Ordained Ministry and even, for a few, Professional Sport.

Classical Civilisation A Level

During the last few years the study of Classical Civilisation has become an area of growth in both schools and universities. It is now a highly regarded academic subject in its own right and considered the equal of any other A-Level for entry to nearly all university courses.

One of the strongest appeals of Classical Civilisation is the very wide range of the subject. It can include the study of plays, poetry, religion, politics, history and art, but it extends much more widely than these narrow divisions to include the full spectrum of their cultural background. It also has the immediate attraction of some of the finest myths, the most profound thought and the most exquisite art that European Civilisation has produced. In addition, it is a subject which is easily accessible to all; you can take it at AS and A-Level without having studied it for GCSE and all the texts are in translation.

For AS and A2 you study topics such as Greek Tragedy or The Aeneid in its Context; that on Art and Architecture has been much enjoyed. Each topic is tested by comment and essay questions, and one module may be replaced by coursework in the form of an individual study.

Each year we usually arrange visits to Greek plays and archaeological sites or museums. In addition there have been six school trips to Greece and Italy in recent years.

Classical Civilisation at A-Level is obviously an excellent foundation for the many non-linguistic courses which are now available at many universities. A degree in Classical Civilisation is well regarded for both its depth and breadth. Recent graduates have entered as wide a variety of careers in Business, Accountancy, the Media, the Professions and the Services, for instance, as from any other arts degree course.