In this section:

• Overview
• Pre-Prep Department
• Prep Department
• Year 3 and 4 Department
• Art Department
• Classics Department
  • Fishbourne Roman Palace
  • Year Eight - Trip to the Roman Baths 2009
• Design and Technology Department
• English Department
• French Department
• Geography Department
• History Department
• ICT Department
• Maths Department
• Music Department
• RE Department
• Science Department
• Examination Revision

The Classics Department

The Classics Department is driven by a firm belief in the relevance of the Classics in modern life. The purpose of education itself is encapsulated within Classics. Firstly the study of Classics is inherently pleasurable and fascinating, and may provide pupils with an inexhaustible interest which they can pursue all their lives. Secondly, a Classicist must be analytical, and grounding in the subject produces a child with an active and enquiring mind, open to, but prepared to be critical of new ideas and concepts. Thirdly, Classics is multi-disciplinary and as such requires the development of skills and attributes that will be valuable in many areas of adult life, and which form a mature and rounded individual. Finally, the content itself, both cultural and linguistic, is of inestimable value in the modern world. Pupils’ experience of the society around them is enriched by an awareness of its origins, and their understanding and use of English, as well as other European languages, can be vastly improved by an insight into their development and an appreciation of etymology. The subject provides an important stepping stone for younger and older pupils in the development of their world awareness through a background study of different civilisations and empires.

          

  The Oratory Preparatory School pupils regularly visit Rome

 

 

 

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 Classroom Teaching:

In the classroom environs pupils are encouraged to learn to develop an independent spirit of enquiry, whilst maintaining mindfulness of others in a group dynamic that embraces the essence of a Catholic identity whilst respecting other religious traditions. All pupils should feel a sense of awe and wonder for the manifold connectivity of all aspects of life.

Latin is taught to two parallel sets in year 6, allowing pupils to move between the sets according to their individual progress which is assessed each term. There are three 35 minute lessons per week.

In years 7 and 8 the top set (including scholarship candidates) receives four 35 minute lessons per week whilst the lower set receives two 35 minute lessons per week. As the Common Entrance exam provides for different levels of ability within the subject each pupil will be entered at an appropriate level according to the amount of time that he/she has spent studying the language. Greek can also be offered where there is a strong demand.

The course followed in the subject is the Cambridge Latin Course (it has its own excellent web-site at www.cambridgescp.com). Book 1 is centred on Roman Pompeii and is studied in Year 6. Background topics include Roman houses, Roman Pompeii, Roman theatre, gladiators,  slaves and freedmen, beliefs about life after death, Roman baths, schools, local government and elections and the destruction of Vesuvius. The mythological component focuses on the Trojan War.

Book 2 is centred on Roman Britain and Alexandria and is studied in Year 7. Background topics include farming, early Roman conquest, Cogidubnus and Fishbourne palace, Roman Alexandria and glassmaking, the worship of Isis and medicine and science. The mythological component focuses on the adventures of Odysseus travelling back from Troy.

Book 3 is also centred on Roman Britain and is partially studied in Year 8 prior to the build up to Scholarship exams and Common Entrance. Background topics include Roman Bath, magic and curses, Roman Religion and Roman engineering. The mythological component focuses on early Roman Legends.

 

 

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Trips / Educational Visits: 

        

 

Educational visits to places of interest are catered for in all year groups. In Year 6 there is a trip to St.Albans, in Year 7 a trip to Fishbourne Palace and in Year 8 a trip to Bath. There is also a joint trip with the R.E. department to Rome and Pompeii that takes place every few years.

Visitors will often bump into pupils revising furiously for a vocabulary test, noting derivations that might assist them, or those pretending to be gladiators or others completely engrossed in books on mythology. One thing is for sure. Latin at the Oratory Prep School thrives!