Latin
Latin is taught to a large group of pupils in the first three years at the School (Years 7, 8, and 9). Following the Cambridge Latin Course, they are given an excellent grounding in the language, soon learning to read Latin fluently. Stories are set in Pompeii, Roman Britain, Alexandria and the city of Rome itself, so, as they come to grips with the fundamental principles of the language, they also absorb a great deal about the Roman world. Pupils joining the School in Year 9 already with a good knowledge and sound reading skills in Latin may continue their studies.
Pupils can opt to continue their Latin studies in Years 10 and 11. We follow the OCR GCSE specifications and also aim to take pupils beyond the bare bones of the GCSE course with further reading from the Cambridge Latin Course.
Specification:
OCR GCSE in LATIN (1942)
Pupils will be entered for the Higher Tier papers which make the grades A*- D available.
Papers 1 and 2 are compulsory and pupils sit two shorter further papers. Assessment is 100% examination - there is no coursework.
Paper 1: Language – translation and comprehension of a Latin narrative passage (1 hour 15 minutes)
Paper 2: Verse Literature – extracts from Virgil's Aeneid (1 hour 15 minutes)
Paper 3: Language – translation of a Latin narrative passage (45 minutes)
Paper 4: Prose Literature – selections from the Cambridge Anthology or Pliny's Letters (45 minutes)
Examination preparation:
All students are issued with detailed departmental grammar and set text revision documents. Lists of OCR prescribed vocabulary are available on the OCR website http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/latin/ by selecting the Updated Specification 2007 document and referring to pages 35-46 for Paper 1 and pages 47-50 for Paper 3.
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