Latin

Mountbatten is fortunate to have specialist teaching provision for Latin, more usually found in grammar schools and the independent sector.

Why study Latin?

It has long been recognised that developing a competence in Latin has many benefits.

• A familiarisation with Latin as the root language for English and other European languages, leading to a better appreciation of English Language.
• The development of a sensisitive and analytical approach to language learning.
• The study of the Latin language and Roman Civilisation provides a rich environment for the development of communication, personal, learning and thinking skills.
• The Latin specification is a doorway to the Ancient World, the study of which gives students the opportunity to engage in questions of a spiritual, moral ethical and social nature.

Key Stage 3

Latin is offered in Year 9 to 30 of the most able and motivated students who begin the Cambridge Latin Course (CLC) and progress to the Graded Test at the end of Stage 12. The pass rate over 5 years has been 100%.

Key Stage 4

Latin can be chosen as an option in Years 10 and 11. Groups tend to be smaller than in core subjects and consist of very highly motivated and academic students. The WJEC course has been designed as an accelerated course fo highly achieving students based on the Cambridge School Classics Project.

The exam is a double award from WJEC - Level 2 certificate (GCSE equivalent).

Latin Language

• Core Latin – 67%
• Roman Civilisation – 33%

The topics for the controlled assessment element are very individual and can be chosen by the student from a wide variety of Roman life topics. Students set their own question which reflects their interests, i.e. on medical knowledge, sport, religion and the military.

Latin Literature

• Themes – 50% examination
• Narrative – 50% examination

‘Themes’ consists of the study of 120 lines of extracts of prose and verse from Latin authors on a common theme, currently Love and Marriage. Authors include Catullus, Ovid, Cicero and Pliny.

‘Narratives’ consists of the study of 120 lines of a single narrative, currently Tacitus, Nero and Agrippina.

Candidates are supplied with a text and complete vocabulary list and answer questions based on understanding, language, content and personal response.

Results

These are consistently high.

In 2011:

• Latin Language 100% A-C, 100% A/A*.
• Latin literature 100% A-C, 7/9 A/A*, 2/9 B.

Previous years:

• 2010: 89.5%
• 2009: 100%
• 2008: 100%
• 2007: 100%
• 2006: 100%

Facilities and Resources

Following significant government investment in ICT in Latin through the work of the Cambridge School Classics Project, Latin is today one of the most highly resourced subjects at Key Stage 3 and 4 in terms of ICT.

The school utilises the many e-learning opportunities available. A significant proportion of work is done on laptops, and the entire course is online at cambridgescp.com

Trips and Extra Curricular Activities

Students are offered many opportunities to visit sites of interest.

• Year 9: Bath (Roman Baths)
• Year 10: British Museum, Winchester Cathedral (Latin Inscriptions), Oxford University (Classics Outreach)
• Year 11: Museum of London

The department also leads a variety of popular bi-annual Classics Trip abroad, which are open to all pupils. In the past Rome and Pompeii have been the destinations. In July 2012, 40 students are visiting the “Classical Sites of Turkey” including Istanbul, Pergamum, Ephesus and Troy

Staff

Mrs J Compton
Head of Latin