Sir John Leman High School & Sixth Form

Classical Civilisation is the study of the origins of Western culture – stories, myths, religions, empires, philosophies, emotions, feelings. It is a study of a culture distant from us in time, but one that informs our modern culture.

The course is designed to enable students to approach the Classical World of ancient Greece and Rome without the need to have studied Latin or Greek; study will be completed using artefacts or translated texts. The key of this subject is variety; underneath the Classical Civilisation umbrella can be found topics as diverse as history, sociology, art and architecture, literary criticism, philosophy and archaeology.

Paper 1: Myth and Religion

Gods, heroes, temples, festivals. The Greeks and Romans have no concept of “religion” as such, as all the myths and stories they know and use as models are such an integrated part of Greek and Roman life. In Greek and Roman thought, science and religion are not separate subjects, but part of the search for the truth. So Hercules-Heracles, Jupiter-Zeus, the emperor-god; all these figures were their way of understanding the world.

Component 2: Roman City Life

How did the Romans live? We explore the buildings and the lives of the Romans. We visit the Roman houses, go to their dinner parties, inspect their slaves, bathe in the baths, visit the colosseum and the chariot races and live out their family life. We are taught how they taught, and we share their laughter in the theatre.

Students will learn about the ancient world and give relevant opinion.

• OCR Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Classical Civilisation

The qualification is very beneficial for those intending to study Classical Civilisation and Latin at A-level.

Classical subjects are highly regarded by university admission tutors and employers. Students have a better understanding of culture and ideas and are more able to write, read and design with impact and accuracy. This can be beneficial across a range of creative, research and management positions. Famous Classicists include Steven Fry, JK Rowling and Tom Hiddleston.