Classics
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Francis Holland School has a proud tradition of studying Classical languages and culture. The Classics Department provides a rigorous grounding in Latin for all of its pupils between Years 7-9 before providing the opportunity to study Classical Civilisation, Classical Greek and/or Latin at GCSE and A Level.
- Pupils are provided with a challenging and stimulating curriculum, which enables them as individuals to achieve their potential.
- Through the teaching of language, vocabulary and syntax, pupils are equipped with the tools to tackle translation and literature and also use the application of this in their study of Modern Languages and English.
- Pupils develop an understanding of the values of the ancient world and understand the way these have influenced contemporary western society.
In Key Stage 3 pupils learn Latin using the Suburani Latin reading course. This exciting new textbook is split into fifteen chapters, each of which contains a short comic strip introducing a new grammar point, stories in continuous prose and several background sections examining different aspects of Roman life. The course has an interactive website to accompany it, with useful vocabulary and grammar learning tools that pupils use both at home and at school.
Year 7s will be introduced to the ancient world and Latin at the same time, building a core Latin grammar and vocabulary including topics such as the present tense and noun cases in the singular and plural. Alongside this rigorous introduction to the language, pupils learn about how most Romans lived and worked, what the city of Rome looked like, and what Roman religious practice involved.
During Year 8 pupils continue with Book 1 of Suburani, expanding their knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary with new verb tenses (the perfect and imperfect) and new noun cases. Year 8 pupils also learn about Roman Britain and Gaul in classical civilisation sections of the course.
In Year 9 we continue to discover more new Latin grammar, including the future tense and more complicated constructions such as relative clauses. The course also allows pupils to learn about Roman Portugal and technical skills such as how Romans made mosaics. In preparation for Year 10, pupils will be given taster sessions in the three classical GCSEs: Classical Civilisation, Classical Greek, and Latin.
Latin
This stimulating and challenging course (OCR) gives pupils the opportunity to study the language and literature of ancient Rome, reading the works of famous authors such as Virgil and Pliny, allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of the culture and language of a civilisation which has so inspired later generations. Pupils gain analytical skills which will be invaluable in later life.
Classical Civilisation
This lively and varied course (OCR) provides an excellent introduction to the Classical world. Over two years pupils cross-examine Greek and Roman attitudes to mythology and religion as well as exploring the literature and culture of Rome in closer detail. Classical Civilisation gives pupils the chance to study ancient literature, art, architecture, archaeology and history in depth. There is no requirement for ancient Greek or Latin to take this subject, but it complements the study of Greek or Latin very well.
Greek
This inspiring and demanding course (OCR) introduces pupils to the Ancient Greek language and culture, with a focus on building a solid foundation of grammatical knowledge and vocabulary. The works studied are both prose and verse, with extracts from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, and Herodotus’ Histories, which continue to build on experiences of translating and analysing literature.
Latin and Classical Civilisation A Level, and Greek AS are all available in the Sixth Form. These subjects are excellent preparations for Classics, Classical Studies and Ancient History at university, as well as supporting the skills developed in other subjects in the Humanities and Languages.
Latin
A Level Latin (OCR course) focuses on more complex language points, preparing for undergraduate level texts. By the end of this course pupils will be able to translate unseen texts of Livy and Ovid with confidence, as well as learning “scansion”, the ability to read Latin poetry in its original rhythm. Pupils also read verse and prose set texts in great detail, analysing the works of authors such as Cicero and Virgil, whose literature has profoundly shaped European legal and poetic thought. This is a course for keen linguists and those eager to learn more about Latin literature in greater depth.
Classical Civilisation
This broad and engaging course (OCR) covers Greek and Roman culture in much greater depth than the GCSE, but pupils do not need to have studied Classical Civilisation before to take this course. At FHS pupils will study modules on the Invention of the Barbarian, Greek and Roman epic poetry by Homer and Virgil and Graeco-Roman attitudes to Love and Relationships. An essay based subject, this course will develop communication skills further to help pupils express their ideas in greater clarity and depth. Classical Civilisation is a complementary subject to any Classical A Level as well as Humanities subjects such as English, History, History of Art and Politics.
Greek
This subject (OCR) is available by request for those who have enjoyed their GCSE Greek studies and want to read ancient texts in their original language. By the end of this course pupils will be able to translate unseen Greek texts with confidence, as well as learning “scansion”, the ability to read Greek poetry in its original rhythm. Pupils also read verse and prose set texts in great detail, analysing the works of authors such as Aristophanes, Euripides and Thucydides, whose literature has profoundly shaped European drama and historical writing.
The Classics Department takes students on a variety of trips. Recent outings have included a combined GCSE and A Level trip to Athens, visits to the theatre to see Euripides’ Medea, and visits to the British Museum to analyse Greek and Roman Art and to visit temporary exhibitions. In 2024 we are aiming to take a group of GCSE and A level pupils to Greece to explore the wealth of archaeological sites on display.
Classics Club
A group of girls in Years 7-9 meet every week to learn more about the ancient world. We try out ancient writing systems (e.g. Greek, Linear B and cuneiform), learn about Greek and Roman myths and history, and create our own responses to the ancient world. This year pupils made their own board games inspired by Greek and Roman mythology.
Lauda Sion
Classical plays and reading competitions have a long history at Francis Holland School. The annual competition for Latin was established in the 1930s, and the Sheila Griffiths memorial fund gave money to fund a prize for Latin verse-speaking, known as the Lauda Sion prize. In the summer term, in keeping with the tradition of the school, pupils from Years 7-9 perform short plays in Latin from their textbooks. The supportive atmosphere is one of celebration and the girls enjoy themselves immensely. The Latin language certainly does not seem dead in SW1!
This year’s Lauda Sion competition was judged by our teaching colleagues at Francis Holland, Regent’s Park. Ultimately the prize was awarded to Katie D in Year 8 for a fantastic performance of the character Currax, which was highly commended by all our judges.
Rome and Italy Trip 2022
In October half term, girls in Years 10-13 set off for a week of exploration in Rome and Italy with Dr Hayes and Mrs Bird. We arrived in the city early on Monday morning and immediately began touring the city. Over the course of the next four days we visited many sites covered in the GCSE and A Level Classical Civilisation curriculum, and walked the same areas as some of the authors studied in GCSE and A Level Latin. The group explored the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum, the Pantheon, Caracalla’s Baths, the Roman port town of Ostia Antica, and also Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli. This trip helped bring the ancient world to life for our pupils, and we hope to be back very soon!
GCSE Ashmolean Trip – November 2019
In November, the Classics department took twenty-eight Year 10 and 11 Classical Civilisation and Latin pupils on a trip to Oxford. The girls were treated to the fantastic “Last Supper in Pompeii” exhibition, which gave an excellent overview of Roman cooking and dining habits. One highlight was seeing the large clay pots that dormice were fattened up in before they were stuffed or served with honey at an elaborate dinner party. In the afternoon the girls meet some FHS alumnae at the University of Oxford and learnt more about university life and studying at Oxford. We then braved icy winds for a very informative city tour filled with stories ranging from public executions, college rivalries, and the inspirations for C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.
The Department makes regular use of digital materials to teach and learn about the ancient world, including the Suburani online Latin website which adapts to pupils’ performance. There is also a very well-equipped Departmental Library, with a wide variety of books, CDs, DVDs and other resources, many of which can be borrowed by the students. This is in addition to the Classics section of the school library, which is also very well resourced. Members of the Sixth Form, in particular, benefit from our subscription to the Classical magazine “Omnibus” which features articles by a wide range of Classical scholars, as well as games and competitions.
The department is led by Dr Hayes with support from Mr Hayward and Mrs Bird. Mrs Buchanan teaches both English and Classics, and Ms Grimshaw teaches both History and Classics.
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