CRGS has a flourishing Classics department, which teaches Latin and Greek to GCSE and A level, as well as Classical Civilisation to A level. Latin is taught to all boys in Years 7-9 for 1½ hours (3 periods) per week. The course followed is ‘Ecce Romani’ and by the end of Year 9 students will have reached the end of Book 4, covering most of the basic Latin grammar. Around 30-40 students generally opt for Latin GCSE, taking language and literature papers (OCR syllabus). In the Sixth Form around 6-12 students generally take A-level Latin. This involves reading a range of authors as preparation for unseen translation, set books and prose composition (begun from scratch in Year 12).

Classical Greek is offered as an option against German in Year 8. Between and third and half of boys opt for this each year, and a number continue to GCSE and A-level. In Years 8-11 the course followed is ‘Greek to GCSE’ by John Taylor. The A-level course is along the same lines as for Latin.

Classical Civilisation is offered solely at AS and A2, with no prior knowledge or study of the ancient world being required or assumed. The syllabus followed is AQA, involving the study of 2 topics in each year. At AS the topics are Greek: Aristophanes and Athenian Democracy, and Homer’s Odyssey; at A2 they are Roman: Augustus and the Foundation of the Principate, and Virgil’s Aeneid.

Links to specifications

GCSE Latin

GCSE Greek

A level Latin

A level Greek

A level Classical Civilisation

These courses are taught by five well-qualified Classics specialists. Results are generally excellent, and quite a few students go on to study Classical subjects at a range of universities, including Oxbridge. The department also organises many extra-curricular activities, including study days, museum visits and theatre trips. We also run regular trips to Italy (Rome/Sorrento) and Greece, generally in alternate years.