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Greek

Years 2-3

All boys are given a taster week of Greek during Latin lessons at the end of the Second Year. Greek is then an option in the Third Year for all boys. We begin with the alphabet but move on using the coursebook Athenaze to develop skill at reading Ancient Greek set in the context of Athens in the Fifth Century BC. As well as linguistic study of Greek, we study topics including Greek Gods, Myth, Festivals and the City of Athens. Throughout comparisons are made with the many English words which are derived from Greek. Currently 43 boys are studying Greek in the Third Year.

Years 4-5

Greek is part of the options scheme for the Fourth and Fifth Years. We continue with Athenaze, in preparation for the new OCR GCSE syllabus in Classical Greek. The language work, including exercises for translation into Greek, takes priority in the Fourth Year; in the Fifth Year the focus shifts towards the reading and enjoyment of a selection of Greek literature for the GCSE exam.

Sixth Form

Each year a small number of boys opt for Greek at AS and A level. Generally students choose Greek alongside Latin and two other subjects, which in recent years have often been Mathematics and Further Mathematics. We follow the OCR syllabus for AS and A2, which gives the opportunity to study texts from several genres of Greek literature. Prose Composition is taught in the Lower Sixth as a complement to more in-depth study of the language; this is continued at A2 where it is one of the examined units.

Beyond School

Boys studying Greek at the RGS have gone on successfully to study at University in a range of subjects but they are ideally placed to study Classics and subjects related to Classics such as Ancient History, Archaeology and Egyptology.

In recent years we have taught a number of boys who gained places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in Classics and other subjects.

Boys who have studied Classical subjects at the RGS in recent years have pursued careers in Law, Politics, Marketing, Corporate Finance, the Church, the Civil Service and the Diplomatic Corps among others.