Classical Greek
• Module 2 – Organic and Inorganic Chemistry (35 per cent of A-level)
What is the subject about? You will immerse yourself in the language, literature and culture of the ancient world from Homer and the Trojan War to the second century AD. You will develop your language skills from GCSE so that you are more confident about reading texts in the original language by foundational authors such as Homer, Herodotus, Plato, Sophocles, Euripides, Thucydides and more. There is also an option at A-level to translate from English into Greek. Why might I choose to study Greek at A-level? Greek is generally acknowledged to be a challenging yet rewarding subject and is very highly regarded by universities as an indicator of academic ability and aspiration. You may wish to study classics at university, which may lead to a wide variety of careers in fields such as law, accountancy, finance, banking, the civil service, journalism or marketing. You may also value studying Greek alongside any combination of A-levels (with or without Latin). There are clear benefits in developing a wide range of skill, such as the skills of analysis and problem solving through translation, creativity through prose composition, or critical thinking and development of emotional intelligence through responses to literature. How will I be examined? There are four exam papers which are taken at the end of the Upper Sixth. • Unseen Translation (33 per cent of A-level) Translation into English of a passage of Greek prose and a passage of Greek verse • Language Paper 2 (17 per cent of A-level) Prose Comprehension or Prose Composition • Prose Literature (25 per cent of A-level) Study of one or two prose texts (eg Herodotus Histories ) • Verse Literature (25 per cent of A-level) Study of one or two different genres of Greek poetry (eg Homer Iliad and/or Euripides Hippolytus) The department follows the OCR course (OCR Advanced GCE in Greek H444).
This covers periodicity, Group 2, Group 7 and transition metals, nomenclature and isomerism, alkanes, alkenes, halogenoalkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acid derivatives, aromatic chemistry, amines, polymers, amino acids and proteins and organic analysis • Module 3 – Synoptic Paper (30 per cent of A-level) This covers any content and any practical skills What are my opportunities for project work or coursework? There is a list of stipulated practicals that must be covered during the A-level and an endorsement issued at the end of the course; the ideas and skills of which will be examined in the written papers. Mr D C Miller Head of Chemistry
Classical Civilisation
What is the subject about? No prior study of classical civilisation is necessary to study this subject at A-level, though the course does follow on from GCSE Classical Civilisation. Pupils develop an appreciation for what the Greeks and Romans thought and believed by studying classical literature, thought, art and history. This includes the great epics of Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid, bastions of western thought and literature. Pupils will gain an awareness of how similar to and different from us the Greeks and Romans are, as well as developing skills of analysis as they interpret what primary sources tell us about the past and their limitations. Why might I choose to study classical civilisation at A-level? This course will suit anyone with an interest in people, as the ideas and narratives of people are the main focus of the different topics. Pupils do not need to have studied classical civilisation at GCSE to succeed in the course. The course complements a huge range of other subjects, including art, English, geography, history and philosophy. Pupils may also choose classical civilisation as a humanity to balance out some more scientific options. The course encourages critical thinking and analytical skills and as such is valuable in applying to any humanities course at university. Aside from the more obvious routes such as ancient history, archaeology and classics, pupils can go on to study subjects such as English literature, history, history of art or war studies, as well as broader disciplines such as anthropology. It is as much the transferable skills which are valuable for further study as the factual content of the courses. Classical civilisation is well regarded by universities for these sorts of courses.
Mr H B Jourdain Head of Classics
Computer Science
What is the subject about? The aim of the computer science A-level is to encourage learners to develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of computer science and how computer programs work in a range of contexts. Pupils who wish to study computer science A-level are expected to have studied Computer Science at GCSE and have obtained at least a grade 6 in GCSE mathematics as the A-level computing course contains a good deal of mathematical content. Learners will study topics including information representation, communication and Internet technologies, hardware, software development, and relational database modelling. As they progress, learners will develop their computational thinking and use problem solving to develop computer-based solutions using algorithms and programming languages. Learners will develop a range of skills such as thinking creatively, analytically,
How will I be examined? There are three papers, all taken at the end of the U6th.
• Paper 1 (40 per cent of A-level) The World of the Hero: Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid • Paper 2 (30 per cent of A-level) Culture and the Arts: Greek Theatre or Imperial Image • Paper 3 (30 per cent of A-level) Belief and Ideas: Greek Religion or Love and Relationships
Mr H B Jourdain Head of Classics
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