Classical Civilisation

Classical Civilisation offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the ancient Greek and Roman civilisations which have so profoundly affected our own. It is a rigorous and wellregarded course, and indeed features in the top tier of humanities subjects in the list published by Trinity College, Cambridge. Through the study of literature, archaeology, art and architecture, religion and society, students are encouraged to analyse and compare the ancient and modern worlds, and to express themselves with clarity and feeling. Highlights of the course include the Parthenon marbles, the sanctuaries at Delphi and Olympia, and reading the Odyssey, Iliad and Aeneid.

Clifton has a very strong tradition in Classical studies, and students have gone on to study a wide variety of university courses, some directly related (e.g. Classics, Ancient & Modern History, Archaeology & Anthropology), others indirectly related (e.g. Business, English Literature). The analytical skills that the study of Classical Civilisation fosters are of relevance to most careers.

No knowledge of ancient languages is required, and while having a general background understanding or a Classical Civilisation GCSE will of course be helpful, it is by no means essential.

Course content and assessment

At Clifton we follow the OCR course, which contains an exciting mixture of literature, history and art. In the Lower 6th year, we study two components: one of the great epic poems of Homer, either the Odyssey or the Iliad; and either tragic and comic drama or the art and architecture of the Greeks. In the Upper 6th year, we study two further components: Virgil’s Aeneid, the great Roman epic; and either the politics of the Late Roman Republic or democracy and the Athenians or Greek religion. It is anticipated that most students will want to study the full A Level. If a student wishes to study only for the AS qualification, this should be flagged well in advance, since not all components are available for the AS.

Additional features

At Clifton, classroom tuition is complemented by trips to sites and museums, such as Caerleon, the British Museum, or the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, and by talks from visiting speakers. Students also enjoy, and derive great benefit from, our annual overseas trip to Greece, mainland Italy, or elsewhere. In October 2019, for example, we visited Rome, Pompeii and other sites on the Bay of Naples.

Facilities and staff

For further details, please see Latin and Ancient Greek section.

Entry Requirements

No formal grade requirement. A good level of spoken and written English is necessary for success in this course.

Course Offered

A Level OCR Classical Civilisation