You will study both language and literature, with texts which are highly relevant for today’s world, which will see you considering real issues such constructions of power, the art of story-telling, gendered discourse and relationships. You will develop your intellectual skills, as we foster independence of thought and learning so that you will be ready to take on the challenges of university or employment. You will be introduced to the works of key authors including the playful poet Ovid and historian Livy, as well as the sparkling poetry of Catullus and inspiring oratory of Cicero. You’ll be looking at the literary, historical and political context which formed them, giving an informed personal response and developing your critical skills of analysis and translation to a greater depth than ever before. You’ll study your first two set texts in Y12, then in Y13 your further prose and verse author will be studied. Your linguistic skills will be developed each week with a focus on particular aspects of syntax in Y12, alongside passages for unseen translation from Roman authors, and sentences of prose composition. In Y13 you will move onto more difficult passages of Latin and begin translating full passages of English into Latin. A typical week will see you preparing the set text before the lesson, ready to put forward and defend your own ideas and interpretations in discussion, and developing your translation skills by extending your vocabulary and knowledge of Latin grammar. The process of translating Latin appeals to those who like working through a task logically, and will help you to use English with greater precision.