Key Stage 3

All students learn Latin, a very logical language, which is at the root of many western European languages and which shares roots with Sanskrit and Russian. They soon come to appreciate what a huge influence it has also had on modern English. Students are encouraged to enjoy the problem-solving aspects of the subject, while at the same time learning about the values and daily life of the Romans.

Key Stage 4

Students taking the OCR Latin course have the opportunity not only to further develop their language and problem-solving skills, but also to study and appreciate Latin literature in its original form. In KS4 they may also study Classical Civilisation, a course in which they learn about the culture of the Greeks and Romans by studying the physical remains of their culture and by reading literature in translation.

Key stage 5

The study of any classical subject complements all other subjects offered in the Sixth Form at HBS, as they promote significant transferable skills, as well as possessing their own intrinsic value.

Those who choose to study Latin will acquire a thorough and rigorous knowledge of the language, as well as having the chance to explore significant literary texts which have very much stood the test of time. The literature is discussed in dept, which enhances the students’ ability to weigh up arguments and also fosters an attitude of openness to, and curiosity about, the ideas of other cultures.

The A Level Classical Civilisation course is open to all students, regardless of whether or not they have studied a classical subject at GCSE. We access Greek and Roman culture through a wide range of surviving evidence, both literary and material. The literature studied is at the root of much of western writing and explores many fundamental human issues. As well as the intrinsic interest and value of the content, the skill of developing and justifying a personal response to the material under investigation complements most other subjects offered here at HBS.