Classical Civilisation

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Department Lead: Mrs C Henshall

Classical Civilisation at TWGSB focuses primarily upon the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome and provides students with a broad and rewarding study of the culture of the classical world. It is a wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary subject where students have the opportunity to study elements of the literature, visual and material culture and thoughts of the classical world, while acquiring an understanding of their social, historical and cultural contexts and how they relate to the modern world. [Updated 2025/26]

Co-curricular activities

Theatre experiences of Greek tragedies.
Educational trips, including trips to the British museum and British library.
Opportunities to take part in university lectures held by professors of Classical Civilisations.
Opportunities to attend webinars organised by King’s College in London.

...men grappled with exactly the same issues that we do: life, death, gods, sex, love, family, children, education, the nature of the world, our origins and development, the past, money, health, status, other cultures, friendship, power, patriotism, politics, law, crime, justice, empire, war.
Peter Jones, advisor to Classics for All, Taking the Long View

GCSE: Years 10 and 11

10 11 Classical Civ

GCSE Classical Civilisation comprises an exploration of both Greece and Rome, covering the period from 3000BC to 500AD. The course builds on lively classics modules in all three years of the English KS3 curriculum at TWGSB. However, no previous knowledge is required for this GCSE course as it serves as an introduction in itself, engaging students in a vast range of archaeological, literary, visual and architectural source material in the process.

Students become well versed in the core components of the mythological world, familiarising themselves with gods and goddesses, ancient heroes, the birth of the great cities of antiquity, major philosophical, historical and literary developments as well as the lifestyle, religious practices and habits of the ordinary Greek and Roman.

Disciplines learnt in this colourful curriculum include critical evaluation of a uniquely varied range of visual, material and historical sources. In addition, literary analysis comes into play as students engage with writers ranging from Homer and his epics to Latin poets such as Ovid, and the beginnings of historical endeavour on the part of Plutarch and Livy.

Architecturally, students evaluate features of temple building from the Parthenon to the Pantheon, the political and historical importance of some key political Roman monuments and the powerful impact of whole cities of antiquity as well as the impact of their archaeological sites.

We also challenge and stretch students to engage with ideas and varied interpretations, equipping our students with readily transferable analytical and evaluative skills.

The GCSE serves as a helpful and illuminating introduction and foil to the now well-established A Level in Classical Civilisation.

Exam board: OCR

Course specification

A Level: Years 12 and 13

Course outline

The course provides students with a broad and rewarding study of the culture of the classical world. It is a wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary subject where students have the opportunity to study elements of the literature, visual and material culture and thoughts of the classical world, while acquiring an understanding of their social, historical and cultural contexts.

In our lessons we explore everything from Sophocles to Homer; ancient pot painting to stone temples and theatres; Plato to Sappho. We explore, analyse and debate the timeless questions launched by the greatest authors of all time. By the fourth century BC these writers were already being studied by young people, and they are as relevant today as they ever were – questions such as the tension between destiny and free will, comedy and tragedy, the meaning of heroic endeavour and what it means to lead a worthwhile life.

Examination

Paper 1: The World of the Hero: Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid (40%)

Paper 2: Culture and the Arts: Greek Theatre (30%)

Paper 3: Beliefs and Ideas: Love and Relationships (30%)

Exam board: OCR

Course specification

Careers Education

Classical Civilisation can be extremely useful. Students acquire not only specific Classical knowledge, but also important transferable skills such as analysing sources and developing independent, critical and evaluative approaches. Students learn to formulate and support an argument and develop a valuable understanding of cultures very different to their own.
From the proven ability to write a well-structured extended response to the acknowledgement of the views of others and a culturally sensitive approach to these, Classics puts students in an excellent position to seek employment and opportunities.
The study of A Level Classical Civilisation can often lead to the study of Classics, Drama, English, History, History of Art, Law, Philosophy and Politics at university level.
Students who study Classical Civilisation go on to have careers in archaeology, economics, the heritage industry, journalism, law and the media. In fact, the range of career options with this A Level is vast: information from UCAS shows that students who studied Classical Civilisation often go on to study in such diverse disciplines as Medicine, Veterinary Science and Chemistry.

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