Why Classics Thrives at KES
Whenever I am asked what subject I teach and I answer “Classics – Latin and Greek” I am invariably met with bemused and often pitying faces as they imagine me facing hordes of Year 7s armed only with declensions, conjugations and amo, amas, amat to keep them from rioting. However, our Classics lessons at KES feature only the occasional table chant (for old time’s sake) and instead look to equip our pupils with the skills that makes a university degree in Classics highly valued by employers. Its interdisciplinary nature develops the skills of a history, English, history of art and a languages degree in one, as well as those code breaking skills that make Classicists excellent recruits for the secret services...
Having switched a few years ago to the Suburani Latin course our pupils are now immersed in the gritty world of Rome’s plebeian class as we follow our heroine Sabina and watch her navigate the dangerous streets of the Subura, escape being sold into slavery, sail across the empire finding love (and a skill for making mosaics!) on the way. Lessons support the language learning with exploration of the Greek and Roman worlds with activities as diverse as building a Roman insulae (block of flats) on Minecraft, creating a mosaic with lentils, designing recruitment posters for the Roman army and watching the chariot race in Ben Hur.
The success of these engaging lessons can be seen in the numbers choosing to continue with Latin – the current Year 9 has 50 pupils, 41 of whom have opted to learn Classical Greek alongside their Latin (an increase from 31 pupils in total last year), and in Year 12 there are seven pupils in the Latin class, five in Classical Civilisation and two studying Classical Greek. Three pupils in the current Year 13 have applied to Oxbridge to study Classics, with a fourth joining them from “Year 14”, and these are supported by the new after school Classics Core seminar programme, which takes our Sixth Form pupils well beyond the narrow scope of the A level specifications and allows our talented and knowledgeable department to share their passion for Classics – Mr Burns’ three sessions (and counting…) on Alexander the Great have been particularly well received. Our entertaining KESPublica podcast also exposes our pupils to topics which support their study and explore well beyond it.
This is all supported by trips, both at home and abroad, and we were very pleased that Years 8 and 9 were able to hear from the historical novelist Ben Kane (dressed as a Roman soldier!) and learn about the realities of life in the legions, as well as for Roman children.
Simply put, banish the thought that “Latin is a dead language”, for at KES the ancient world is very much alive and punching significantly above its weight.
“Delving into the world of Homer has exposed us to a legacy of heroism which inspired generations of artists, authors and politicians through the eras, and I, leaving KES, feel equipped to take on the world.”
Mrs Greenbury - Head of Classics at King Edward's School, Bath
