Classics

The Classics department at Rydal Penrhos School is a small but effective one, providing a stimulating and successful grounding in Latin language and Latin literature. Latin is taken by pupils in Year 9 to Sixth form as an extra-curricular subject. Exposure to the language enriches the vocabulary of the pupils and helps understanding in other arts subjects as well as sciences.

Why study Latin?

Studying Latin helps your mental development and trains you to think in a logical way. It provides invaluable assistance to your reading and writing skills in English.

You will be reading great poets such as Virgil and prose authors such as Cicero in the original Latin.

You will experience a unique civilisation in the Set Books, which cover a wide range of ideas and issues and reflect the differences and similarities of life in Roman times from our own.

You will become familiar with the links that connect us to this civilisation through:

Archaeological evidence of roads, forts, buildings, inscriptions
The vocabulary and grammar of Latin which shapes our language
The system of law
The family of European Romance languages; French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
The terminology of science, biology, medicine, zoology, horticulture and other disciplines

You will continue to acquire a rich vocabulary which will assist you in your other subjects and beyond, and will have a unique opportunity to consider the Roman contribution to our national life in the areas of government, architecture, ideals and ideas.

And, last but not least, you should find the experience highly satisfying, stimulating and enjoyable.

The successful completion of a Latin course is an accomplishment that any university respects. It will stand you in good stead when applying for many degree courses, in particular; law, medicine, history, English and languages.