PSP Latin by Playful Scholarship Portfolio - Curriculum

PSP Latin

Playful Scholarship Portfolio - Curriculum

Only available to students of Wimbledon High School GDST.

The Latin Pathway across Foundation, Pathways, and Advanced PSP develops linguistic precision, analytical thinking, and cultural literacy through the structured study of one of the foundational languages of Western civilisation. From early grammatical acquisition to literary analysis and scholarly critique, students gain deep insight into the mechanics of language, the legacy of classical civilisation, and the roots of many modern languages and ideas.

At Foundation PSP (Years 7–8), students are introduced to the Latin language through structured grammar and vocabulary learning, translation tasks, and the study of Roman daily life, mythology, and culture. Lessons develop core skills in problem-solving, pattern recognition, and sentence construction, while fostering confidence in linguistic analysis and early engagement with etymology and derivation.

In Pathways PSP (Years 9–11), students build fluency through more complex sentence structures, extensive accidence work, and the translation of unseen Latin passages. Literary analysis of adapted texts begins in earnest, with students learning to appreciate historical context and literary form. The curriculum encourages analytical thinking, precision in translation, and sensitivity to authorial style and meaning. Students may also embark on accelerated Greek, broadening their linguistic and cultural scope.

At Advanced PSP (Years 12–13), students study unadapted Latin texts in both prose and verse, critically engaging with authors such as Cicero, Virgil, and Ovid. They develop expertise in literary criticism, cultural and historical interpretation, and scholarly evaluation. Advanced grammar and syntactical understanding support detailed translation and interpretation. Students also contribute to the wider Classics community through presentations, mentoring, and academic competitions, often demonstrating independence and originality in their engagement with the ancient world.

This pathway ensures students move from foundational language acquisition to advanced scholarly analysis, gaining transferable skills in logic, linguistic structure, cultural literacy, and intellectual independence — essential for further study in Classics, languages, literature, and beyond.