Latin/ Classics people need your help again...fuming!!

[Bossybritches22]

Ok you lovely people helped me enormously recently regarding my "geeky" DD1 & her aim to get into Cambridge, she has now set her heart on doing Classics, so we're rethinking (she is I mean) her A-level choices.

Since she did well in Latin GCSE (A*) & enjoyed it, unfortunately her school doesn't do it to A-level, nor do any in our area. SO we're going down the private tuition route in order to give her a head start.Today I finally tracked down her Latin teacher who calmly informed me she'd have to do futher studies first as the exam she took was in fact NOT a GCSE but a Level 2 in Latin. I remember getting a letter saying they were changing exam boards to make it easier for the girls as I remember wondering if they were dumbing it down. However I'm POSITIVE level-2 was never mentioned as they went to great lengths to assure us it was a recognised exam at Uni level

I'm getting DD to ask her classmates that did Latin if they are aware of this as I'm fuming, & feeling a bit of a fool. Nothing wrong with a Level 2 if that's what you're going for but this was a GCSE subject at the start. DD1 remarked that they all thought the exam seemed rather easy & they were all finished about 30 minutes before the end. On checking the small print on her results letter yes sure enough it says L2-I feel such an eejit as of course in the excitement of all the other results we both just looked at the right hand column where the grades were. It doesn't even have any UCAS points attached!!

Not sure where to go from here but I feel a letter coming on.....what d'you think?

Ah,thank you ... just looked at certificates whch say Book 1 and Book 2 ... must be confusing with CLC books.

Are you trying to do me out of a job, funnyperson ? For bright motivated pupils it probably is possible to do the Latin with no imput, but I think some grammar points do require explanation, particularly if they've not been taught English properly. I taught lots of literary terminology to my pupils which the English GCSE does not cover.

Bossybritches - if you go to www.Cambridgescp.com and find the public examinations section then click on About the wjec courses, you will see a box on the right which has statements of support which includes the statement from the council of university classical departments. The Classical Association might be able to put you in touch with a tutor, or try JACT.

jetgirl no. Its always better to have a good teacher!

Ds is having Latin tutoring as his comprehensive school do not offer it. I found someone by asking a (particularly highbrow!) neighbour if he knew a likely person.

I think a tutor is essential, as it is awfully difficult to motivate oneself (especially if having to do a whole bunch of other academic stuff at the same time) plus most kids today do not encounter such terms as subjunctive/pluperfect etc etc at school so would probably be a bit flummoxed without a guide.

Only downside is ££££ !!

Also agree that the problem continues at A Level. The local sixth form college do not offer Latin, and the next nearest has a notice on its curriculum section advising that it is going to cease offering it from next year.

I'm sure the local authority would blow me a big fat raspberry if I complained when there are councillor trips to China/new carpet for council offices/dogs' party in the park events to fund (grrr, another thread...).