Latin

In Year 9, there are currently two mixed ability classes, each having two Latin lessons per week. The programme is an introduction to the grammar and other skills required for GCSE Latin, and it is designed to allow the pupils to begin reading genuine ancient Latin texts as soon as possible.

Exam Board: OCR

Latin GCSE is open to all pupils who have studied the language up to the end of Year 9. Pupils tend to have at least two years’ experience of Latin and are working at an appropriate level to make the transition to GCSE a fairly obvious one. It is a challenging subject, which is part of its appeal to pupils and future employers alike. Yet it is also readily accessed by pupils who have felt comfortable with the level of Latin taught in Year 9 at Gresham’s. Please talk to the Head of Latin if you are unsure about whether it would be the right choice for you.

The course has three parts, each of which is examined at the end of Year 11.

1. Language (50%) – The course focuses on developing a strong grasp of grammar, vocabulary, and translation. The exam paper consists of unseen comprehension, grammatical and translation exercises.
2. Verse Literature (25%) – The course focuses on understanding, translating and analysing the prescribed Roman poem(s). Skills developed are similar to those needed in English literature. The exam paper consists of translation and commentary on passages from the prescribed poem(s). The prescription will be from Virgil’s Aeneid.
3. Prose Literature (25%) – The course focuses on understanding, translating and analysing the prescribed Roman prose text(s). Skills developed are similar to those needed in English literature. The exam paper consists of translation and commentary on passages from the prescribed text(s). The selections are usually from various authors and explore a theme.
   Or (in certain circumstances),
4. Literature and Culture (25%) – The course focuses on developing an understanding of the Roman world through contemporary sources in translation. It also develops the ability to be critical of those sources. There is no Latin in this section of the course.
   

N.B. The usual combination for the GCSE course at Gresham’s is to sit the Language and two Literature papers. However, in certain circumstances, the Head of Latin may decide at the end of the Year 10 course that a group would achieve more highly by sitting the Literature and Culture paper instead of the Prose Literature paper. This will depend on the relative strengths of the set and therefore may differ from year to year.

When a former chief executive of BP was asked why he recruited so many Classics graduates, he answered simply, “We find they sell more oil”. The critical skills you will learn in Latin GCSE will serve you well in the future, in whatever field, and make you highly marketable to universities and employers. Through studying ancient literature and culture, you will also develop a deep appreciation of language and the influence of the Roman world on our own.

Entry requirements: Grade 6 in GCSE Latin or equivalent

Both universities and employers value the logical thinking skills which are intrinsic to learning a complex inflected language like Latin. In addition, pupils have to write effectively and persuasively about a range of literary authors with diverse styles, and have to have the ability to assimilate large portions of text. A degree in Classics can lead to careers in the civil service, law, accountancy or even computer programming.

The course builds on the ability to translate and comprehend unseen Latin stories already acquired at GCSE. Pupils have to get to grips with more complex syntax and accidence in order to be able to translate unabridged Latin from both prose and verse authors. In addition, they have to study prescribed authors from two different genres.

The course is assessed by:

• Unseen translation exam (Livy and Ovid), 1 hour and 45 minutes (33% weighting)
• Unseen comprehension exam from a different prose author, 1 hour and 15 minutes (17% weighting)
• Prose set text exam on Tacitus ‘Annals’ Book IV, 2 hours (25% weighting)
• Verse set text exam on Virgil ‘The Aeneid’ Book XII, 2 hours (25% weighting)

Entry requirements: Grade 6 in GCSE Latin or equivalent.

Both universities and employers value the logical thinking skills which are intrinsic to
learning a complex inflected language like Latin. In addition, pupils have to write effectively
and persuasively about a range of literary authors with diverse styles, and have to have
the ability to assimilate large portions of text. A degree in Classics can lead to careers in
the civil service, law, accountancy or even computer programming.

The course builds on the ability to translate and comprehend unseen Latin stories already acquired at GCSE. Pupils have to get to grips with more complex syntax and accidences to be able to translate unabridged Latin from both prose and verse authors, although they do have access to a dictionary in the examination to help them with this task. In addition, they have to study prescribed authors from two different genres.

The course is assessed by:

• Paper 1: short unseen passages to translate from two authors (45% weighting)
• Paper 2: prose (history) and verse (epic poetry) literature (45% weighting)
• IA Research Dossier – a collection of annotated source material on a topic of the pupil’s choice from the classical world/Latin language (10% weighting)