The Classics department consists of 2 subjects, Latin and Greek. Latin takes up the bulk of the department as it is taught in the curriculum; Greek is taught as an activity, currently on Friday evenings.
The teaching staff is not exactly the most unwieldy at Moor Park, consisting as it does of, well, me. The principle advantage of this is that no-one can interrupt or disagree with me during departmental meetings.
All but a few study Latin. Occasionally extra English or other help is required and this may take place instead of Latin. For the vast majority of children it is good for them to have a go, as it can be beneficial in other areas of the curriculum.
The syllabus followed is that of Ab Initio - the ISEB Common Entrance Book. There are 3 books covering Levels 1, 2 and 3 CE. Level 3 is almost entirely of Scholarship standard for the vast majority of senior schools.
Latin
The structure is as follows:
Year 6
3 lessons a week.
Initially this is taught in forms (i.e. 6B and 6S). At some stage during the year, and only after a high level of consultation, they are split into 2 sets. These are not written in stone as some children can achieve better than expected or struggle, but anticipated changes are very few.
By the end of Year 6, I would expect set 1 to have completed Ab Initio Book 1. I would expect set 2 to have reached half way.
The pace is inevitably much quicker for set 1, as they are on the fast track to Scholarship. Set 2 will have 1 lesson a week devoted to what I call 'background', in other words Greek mythology, the city of Rome etc. This is approximately 15% of the Common Entrance syllabus.
There are regular vocabulary and grammar tests for each set.
Year 7
This is a continuation of Year 6 work. I would expect set 1 to have completed Book 2 and set 2 to have completed Book 1.
Year 8
This is a continuation of Year 7 work. Set 1 will be studying Level 3/Scholarship work as well as looking at past papers for their respective schools. Set 2 will consolidate their knowledge of Level 1 or will move onto Level 2 work, with CE past papers liberally strewn in their way.
Downloadable vocabulary and grammar sheets - feel free to print off a copy and help at home!
Level 1 (for Year 6, 7.2 and 8.2)
Level 2 (for 7.1 and 8.1)
Grammar - Level 3
Although I would like to post the vocab tests for each class, unfortunately due to the vagaries of prep school life they are too susceptible to change to validate the idea.
Websites
For Latin books, worksheets, vocabulary and grammar sheets either go to www.iseb.co.ukor www.galorepark.org.uk
Quiz
Well a new half term deserves a new Classics quiz. Answers, as usual, on apostcard, by email, carrier pigeon et cetera....
Work out the opposites. The answer must be Latin! I have given an example to help
SEDEO Answer: STO (SEDEO = I sit, STO = I stand)
a) AMBULO
b) TIMEO
c) ABSUM
d) FEMINA
e) FILIUS
f) DEUS
g) PUER
h) A/AB
i) CAELUM
j) BIBO