Classics

The most recent of many resurgences of interest in the classical world has inspired Hollywood blockbusters, West End productions, best-selling literature and almost daily television documentaries, not to mention providing the vocabulary for most of Harry Potter’s spells. The teaching of Classics in all its forms has evolved dramatically to serve the current needs and learning styles of students, developments which The Classics department at Ashville has taken on board enthusiastically.

In years 8 and 9 over half of the year study Latin using the e-learning resources written to support the traditional text book and computer testing of vocabulary and grammar. In the course of two years students learn the rudiments of the Latin language while studying the civilizations of a doomed Pompeii, a Britannia which has undergone a military conquest and the wealthy, educated but volatile city of Alexandria. Bearing in mind that the majority of students will not continue past year 9 the course is designed to encourage transferable skills of analytical thought and linguistic awareness, beneficial in the study of all European languages, while including elements of drama, art work, research and presentation.

 From year 10 the school has adopted the Level 2 qualification which carries the same grades as GCSE yet has the flexibility to reward the better students with two A* grades, while making the subject accessible to a much wider ability range. Sophisticated grammar is now mastered and Latin literature in all its beauty and subtlety is studied in the original language, while the social, political and philosophical study of the Ancient World prompt comparisons with, and reflection on, our own life-style.

The new A-level Classics suite allows a small number of committed students to follow their own interests, with the advantage of the tutorial style that smaller numbers allow supplemented by a considerable amount of individual study. By these means students have in recent years followed Latin and Ancient History to exam success as well as a non-examined course of Classical Civilization for its inherent interest! The flexibility of the qualification makes it possible to follow up virtually any passion that the student develops.

Outside the class-room trips to Greece, Italy and Hadrian’s Wall have allowed students to see at first hand the evidence of the civilizations they have studied, while, for a few committed students, essay and Latin reading competitions allow them to stretch themselves further.

The subject in some form is open to all with an interest and is broadly compatible with any other subject. A level students combine Classics with Science, Maths, Humanities and Languages and past students have moved on to careers in Finance, Law, Business and the Media as well as teaching and a life of academia.