Saint Augustine's Priory School
Education for Life
St Augustine's Classics Department is go-ahead, dynamic and thriving. We teach not only Latin, but also Classical Civilisation and Greek to all levels.
Latin continues to be taught to all pupils at this stage, and then some pupils choose to study Classical Civilisation instead of Latin for one year. This gives them an insight not only into Greek and Roman mythology, but the chance to study some Classical literature. The approach also allows pupils to use their imaginative and creative sides with some acting, creation of masks etc. Some pupils are also offered the opportunity to study ancient Greek for one or two years.
Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation are all offered at GCSE. Latin is taken early at the end of one further year's study, so that pupils can go on and take AS level Latin alongside their other GCSEs. Greek and Classical Civilisation follow the more traditional route of 2-year courses.
Again all three subjects are available at both AS and A2, and we, as a department, are proud of the achievements of our pupils. The courses are rigorous, but interesting and stimulating, and allow pupils to see that classical thought, literature and history still have a relevance to today's world.
The Classics Department keeps abreast of any opportunities offered. Recent school trips have been made during holiday time both to Greece to see Athens and other classical sites such as the famous theatre at Epidauros, Olympia and to Rome and Pompeii. London also offers a rich variety of classical plays, mainly in English, although at least one is usually seen in Greek.
Click here to view photographs from recent Tours and Trips.
Overall a Classical education is enriching for any student, no matter how long is spent on it. It represents not only a pleasurable fascination for ancient literature and language, but unfortunately it is a very rare experience in Britain as a whole today, and, therefore, a special and almost unique educational experience for study, of which we, here, at St Augustine's are very proud. Most A-level pupils go on to University courses covering many broad disciplines.