Hi all,

I'm currently in my first year of university studying Classical Literature and Civilisation and am looking at what I would need for a PGCE course in order to teach at secondary level.  I've looked at the Cambridge and King's information on their course and King's state "Your level of Latin will need to be AS level grade B or the equivalent."

I studied Latin until GCSE gaining an A grade but was unable to continue to the Sixth Form due to subject timetable clashes.  I'm taking Greek this year and will probably continue Latin next year from GCSE standard.  Has anyone else been in the same situation in that they don't have an AS/A Level Latin qualification?  I know there are summer schools which offer courses in languages but wonder if I could continue studying it to the equal standard, just without the specific qualification.

I'm planning on contacting the King's and Cambridge departments at some point, but any helpful advice would be much appreciated.  Thanks!

I've known students get admitted who don't have the actual AS or A2 qualification, but the fact that they have studied modules in both Latin and Greek as part of their Class Civ course at univ (which goes well beyond GCSE) has allowed them onto a PGCE course.

Going to the residential summer schools is most helpful, for in 2 weeks, you can gain a year's knowledge.  You can probably get a grant towards the costs from Friends of the Classics and maybe your univ would help too.

I would contact the two Education Departments sharpish.  Don't put it off, for they can advise you on how you can ameliorate your situation over the next two years. Taking the Greek already shows you're serious. 

But remember when you go for job interviews, you are bound to be at a disadvantage when competing against candidates with double honours in Classical Languages.  Also you are most unlikely to be able to teach prose composition at a high level, so there goes your chances of teaching at Eton and its ilk.  But there's a lot of assistance (though of variable quality) on the net to help someone a bit wobbly succeed at teaching translation and comprehension from Latin, even at A Level, and you may be a born teacher, whose gaps in knowledge will be filled as you go along.

 Go for it!  I'm very glad you are considering teaching our brilliant subject.

Sorry, dea, it's true I don't know what part of the country you are in, but there is a tremendous need for classicists where I am.  I'm working well past retirement for example.

Hi all,

I'm new to the TES forums but thought I would throw in my own situation to this thread.  I am currently studying for the PGDE (the Scottish equivalent of the PGCE) at the University of Glasgow.  I completed my 4 year Classics degree at Glasgow too but it did not require that we studied either language as part of the course.  I did take two years of Ancient Greek but my Latin remains practically non existant which I know is something I am going to have to address ASAP!  For this we have been advised that the Open University courses provide a good method of getting up to the required level.

In terms of teaching subjects you have little knowledge of I am just about to be thrown in at the deep end myself... the PGDE at Glasgow requires that you also qualify to teach History along with Classics.  Thus I find myself about to go out on a history teaching placement not having studied History myself since 3rd year at secondary school, it just means I'm doing an awful lot of reading on top of my lesson planning! 

 I'm really glad to see in this thread that there are still so many people interested in teaching the subject because I'm really passionate myself about the value of having Classics as part of the curriculum having studied it at school myself.