How to do Latin and Greek A levels in West country

[duchesse]

Any clues? DD2 (currently just 15 and in yr11) is adamant she wants to do Latin and Greek A levels- all her preferred combinations all include these. The only problem is that the only place she can apparently do Greek is by staying at her current school, which she absolutely does not want to do.

Her other A level choices are any three from maths, chemistry, physics and French, all of which she can do at the College.

Any ideas gratefully received.

[duchesse]

Sorry, forgot to say we are close to Exeter.

[duchesse]

If anybody knew of a good classics/Greek tutor in Exeter who could teach up to A level that would be brilliant!

[BlueMoon1084]

I think the Greek will be the difficult part. Even Exeter tutorial only offer Latin and Classic Civilisation. Am surprised Exmouth CC don't offer either at A Level as they teach Latin and Greek to GCSE.

It might be worth getting in touch with Exeter tutorial school or Exmouth to see if they can recommend a tutor if that's the route you want to go down. I can't see any other option unless she drops Greek for one of her other choices.

[RiversideMum]

Where I live, students do occasionally move between schools and the college for courses so that may be something you could negotiate - but I guess it would be at the mercy of timetables, and the school agreeing. I'd say that your DD needs to think about where she is heading with that combination of subjects and get some advice on the best combination to pick.

[MordionAgenos]

Duchesse contact the university. They may be able to help. The head of the classics department might be a good person to contact.

[duchesse]

Thank you all for your replies, both on- and offline. DD is doing GCSEs in Latin and Greek already, and wants to do Classics at university. Of all her GCSE subjects, they are the two firm stayers for A levels. She will in all likelihood do pretty much as well in every subject, so her criterion for choice is preference and what she wants to study. The only problem is the lack of A level Greek locally unless she stays at her current fee paying school, which she is rather keen not to do.

I will certainly follow up all suggestions! Thank you.

[duchesse]

And by "college" I meant Exeter (6th form) College. Sorry if there was confusion there.

[duchesse]

I have now emailed the classics dept at Ex Univ. Thanks for all suggestions!

[MordionAgenos]

Duchesse I may be imagining it but I think I read a while ago that they offer Latin and Greek at Kings in Ottery. This really was some while ago - before DD1 was in year 4 (she's now in year 10) but it might be worth a little investigate?

[duchesse]

Alas Mordion I think not now. Have trawled their website and found nichts.

[duchesse]

Just catching up with this thread- does anybody have any experience of the Bryanston summer course for classical Greek?

[RillaBlythe]

I went about 10 (?) years ago & did introductor Greek. From what I remember the teaching was good & the social side was lots of fun too (lots of floppy haired public schoolboys tho, a type I was rather into at the time).

[duchesse]

Thank you Rilla! DD2 is probably going to have to a self-directed (possibly with a tutor if we can find one) A level from next year as we can't find anywhere for her to do it other than the place she is already (which she is desperate to leave)

[MordionAgenos]

I hope it works out. Why is she so desperate to leave where she is now (I won't name it but I do remember which one it is)? I thought you were very happy wth the school? Or is it a teenage thing? I know one girl who went there but who swapped to the college for A levels but this was because they don't offer music there and she didn't fancy going to the mixed gender school (which does). Will your DD2 go to the college too? How is it working out with her sister? I'm interested because of course it's the obvious option for DS but it does concern me a bit. Mainly because he is still a long way off and munchkin sized. I'm sure when he's a great hulking teen I will be less worried.

[Bonsoir]

I would be very wary about encouraging any DC to do Latin and Greek at A-level and Classics at university. Why does she want to do this?

[duchesse]

Thankfully the higher education system and openings at the other end are not as stultified as they are in France Bonsoir. She is very academic and musical and wants to do Classics at university. There is a high chance she will want to stay in academia. I am not worried about where she will go with Classics, more concerned that she manages to achieve what she wants to. Hence my thread.

[MordionAgenos]

Perhaps she fancies being Mayor of London. There's nothing wrong with studying classics. And plenty right with wanting to do so.

[yotty]

Can she do Greek and Latin at Bryanston? If she is really bright perhaps she could get a scholarship. The school is not known for being very selective at 13+, but does as far as I know have a good reputation for those subjects and very good for music. If you look at their website, the students that did get into Oxbridge mostly went on to do classics.

[Bonsoir]

I have no idea about Classics in France, duchesse, but I do have some knowledge about Classics in the UK and I wouldn't encourage anyone down that path with the current upheavals in education. Relying on an opening in academia in Classics is a really long shot. If she is clever and talented, surely she has other interests with better career prospects?

[oldqueenie]

Not sure why you would feel so strongly about a classics degree not being a good option? My ds is considering latin and greek at A level, amongst other things at the moment. I am keen to encourage him to pursue his interests and enthusiasms. I don't want my 15 year old to be planning his choices around a safe career... I think the present crap economic outlook is liberating in some ways. With no certainty of a job / career for life it is more important than ever to follow your heart at his age. Good luck to your dd op.

[almapudden]

Bonsoir, I read Classics at Oxford a few years ago. I and all of my contemporaries have done very well since and work in a wide variety of industries: law; teaching; civil service; music; the city; academia.

Classics is an excellent degree which covers a huge range of disciplines; I would highly recommend it!

OP, contacting the university is a good idea. Bryanston and Wells (Latin equivalent) are great but not sufficient preparation for A level on their own.

[duchesse]

I agree with you oldqueenie re "safe" careers. I don't think there is any such thing any more. I'd rather she were following a passion frankly.

[breadandbutterfly]

Classics will open up any of the usual professional doors. Sjould add that it is not essential to do Greek to A Level to study classics at uni, incl Oxbr. Lots don't. The unis will teach Greek from introduction (or in this cae GCSE) without a quibble.

[englishteacher78]

If she doesn't manage to do Greek at A level it's not the end of the road for Oxbridge Classics due to the summer school system. Very few schools nationwide offer Greek at A level (mine is one)