"Habs gave me the freedom to explore."
	Jack Lang, Entrepreneur in Residence, The Judge Business School, Cambridge University.

Classics Department

Latin is taught from the first form as a second language option with German and Spanish. The school uses the modern and popular Cambridge Latin Course, some of which was written by the head of department. It is not just a language course: it encourages pupils to see Latin as the language of Roman Civilisation and at the heart of western European culture. Great stress is laid on learning about Roman and Greek culture and history; topics such as art and architecture, law, religion, role and status, the army, literature and the classical heritage are all covered. To this end the department holds a superb collection of slides and video-cassettes which are used regularly, as is computer software.

Language teaching lies at the heart of the course and is covered thoroughly. The unchanging structure of a classical language is an invaluable tool for assessing and comparing languages and a knowledge of Latin is an excellent basis on which to build the rapid learning of other languages in the future. Similarities between Latin and English, French and Italian vocabulary and structure are regularly explored.

Large numbers of boys opt for Latin at both 11+ and 13+ and continue the study to GCSE. Here the examination requires the reading of significant portions of original Latin literature (Virgil, Tacitus, Catullus), alongside the study of a topic from the ancient world and translation from (but not into) Latin. A-level is a popular option and several boys every year go on to universities including Cambridge and Oxford to read Classics. The department has enjoyed spectacular success in public examinations over many years including top marks in the country at A-level.

A Classical Society meets regularly and there have been joint expeditions to Italy, Greece, Provence, Israel, and Hadrian's Wall with Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls, with whom the department enjoys the friendliest of relations.  

The Classics department benefits from excellent facilities in purpose-built accommodation opened in 1992.