Why should I choose Classical Civilisation? • In short, you want to find out about the history, literature, politics and art of ancient Greece and Rome but without the need to translate the original language. Classical Civilisation is one of the broadest subjects on offer at A-Level and you cover a vast swathe of time and culture in your lessons. • You also learn about the Classical heritage and how it has affected our modern-day world – how have Roman oratory and politics shaped the actions at Westminster today? How have the Greek tragedies and Homer’s epic poetry affected what is happening at the Globe or National Theatre across the river? What influence have artists at the Tate Modern taken from the Greeks? • You get taught in small classes by several teachers – we have a department of six teachers who all teach the subject. In each year of the A-Level course, you would have three teachers and so you get a chance to experience different teaching and learning styles. Furthermore, due to the usually small sets, we can offer individual and personalised feedback on a much more regular basis. Z Success rate at studying at Oxbridge and Russell Group universities – several pupils every year apply successfully to top universities to read Classical Civilisation, Ancient History, Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, Ancient and Modern History etc. • There is also no need to have studied Classical Civilisation previously so this is an opportunity for a fresh start in a new subject. Will Classical Civilisation help me in later life? • YES! Of course, nobody will ever ask you at a job interview to list all the emperors or discuss the full works of Euripides! But what they will be testing at any interview is what skills you have learnt during the course. OCR • Universities and employers look at how pupils can apply what they have learnt and what skillsets they have. Classical Civilisation hones your memory skills, sharpens your ability to summarise and prioritise large amounts of data, teaches you to analyse and unpick key aspects, encourages you to question rather than accept everything, drives you on to present your ideas articulately, shows you how to formulate an argument with evidence and finally how to write coherently and critically. • Many alumni have studied Classical Civilisation and then pursued all manner of careers including Law, management consultancy, banking, civil service etc. The point is that choosing Classical Civilisation can be used as a springboard for any career. What will I study? • OCR Classical Civilisation A-Level is split up into three areas that are taught over two years. • The core topic (40%) is The World of the Hero, concerning Homer and Virgil. As well as studying prescribed books of Greek and Roman epics, a close analysis is made of literary techniques, the characterisation of the hero, and the social, cultural and religious context in which the poems are set. • The first optional topic (30%), which relates to Culture and the Arts, is chosen from: » Greek theatre » Imperial image » Invention of the barbarian » Greek art • The second optional topic (30%), which relates to Beliefs and Ideas, is chosen from: » Greek religion » Love and relationships » Politics of the late Roman Republic » Democracy and the Athenians In practice, the choice of optional topics will be made by those members of the department who are teaching the subject. However, the choice will be informed by the likely appeal of certain topics to sixth-formers, and not just by teachers' preferences. There are three papers for each part of the course, all taken in the summer of Senior Sixth Form.
A pupil should have at least a 7/A grade at GCSE to take the subject at A Level, even though in some subject areas, an 8 or 9 at GCSE is a stronger indicator of subsequent success at A-Level.
About School
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | City of London |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender of School | Boys |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Unknown |
| Sixth Form Fee | £22,635 |
| Address | 107 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 3AL |
Why should I choose Classical Civilisation? • In short, you want to find out about the history, literature, politics and art of ancient Greece and Rome but without the need to translate the original language. Classical Civilisation is one of the broadest subjects on offer at A-Level and you cover a vast swathe of time and culture in your lessons. • You also learn about the Classical heritage and how it has affected our modern-day world – how have Roman oratory and politics shaped the actions at Westminster today? How have the Greek tragedies and Homer’s epic poetry affected what is happening at the Globe or National Theatre across the river? What influence have artists at the Tate Modern taken from the Greeks? • You get taught in small classes by several teachers – we have a department of six teachers who all teach the subject. In each year of the A-Level course, you would have three teachers and so you get a chance to experience different teaching and learning styles. Furthermore, due to the usually small sets, we can offer individual and personalised feedback on a much more regular basis. Z Success rate at studying at Oxbridge and Russell Group universities – several pupils every year apply successfully to top universities to read Classical Civilisation, Ancient History, Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, Ancient and Modern History etc. • There is also no need to have studied Classical Civilisation previously so this is an opportunity for a fresh start in a new subject. Will Classical Civilisation help me in later life? • YES! Of course, nobody will ever ask you at a job interview to list all the emperors or discuss the full works of Euripides! But what they will be testing at any interview is what skills you have learnt during the course. OCR • Universities and employers look at how pupils can apply what they have learnt and what skillsets they have. Classical Civilisation hones your memory skills, sharpens your ability to summarise and prioritise large amounts of data, teaches you to analyse and unpick key aspects, encourages you to question rather than accept everything, drives you on to present your ideas articulately, shows you how to formulate an argument with evidence and finally how to write coherently and critically. • Many alumni have studied Classical Civilisation and then pursued all manner of careers including Law, management consultancy, banking, civil service etc. The point is that choosing Classical Civilisation can be used as a springboard for any career. What will I study? • OCR Classical Civilisation A-Level is split up into three areas that are taught over two years. • The core topic (40%) is The World of the Hero, concerning Homer and Virgil. As well as studying prescribed books of Greek and Roman epics, a close analysis is made of literary techniques, the characterisation of the hero, and the social, cultural and religious context in which the poems are set. • The first optional topic (30%), which relates to Culture and the Arts, is chosen from: » Greek theatre » Imperial image » Invention of the barbarian » Greek art • The second optional topic (30%), which relates to Beliefs and Ideas, is chosen from: » Greek religion » Love and relationships » Politics of the late Roman Republic » Democracy and the Athenians In practice, the choice of optional topics will be made by those members of the department who are teaching the subject. However, the choice will be informed by the likely appeal of certain topics to sixth-formers, and not just by teachers' preferences. There are three papers for each part of the course, all taken in the summer of Senior Sixth Form.
A pupil should have at least a 7/A grade at GCSE to take the subject at A Level, even though in some subject areas, an 8 or 9 at GCSE is a stronger indicator of subsequent success at A-Level.
