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A Level Latin

Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School

Old Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3EW

Access to Higher Education
Level 3
History, Philosophy and Theology

Available start dates

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Simon Langton Girls Grammar School
2 Year(s)
Full time
Daytime/working hours
NULL

Application Instructions

Applications open: Monday 3rd November 2025

Applications close: Students should apply by 1st March 2026. Applications received after this date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

How to apply: All students, both internal and external, should apply via Kent Choices. Please select your A Level subjects. There is no need to select EPQ as students can enrol on this directly in Year 12.

All internal applicants will be invited to a consultation with a member of the Senior Leadership Team in Term Three.

We invite all external applicants to book a consultation with a member of the Senior Leadership Team once they have received a conditional offer. You will be contacted with the information on how to do this.


Admission Arrangements for Entry into Year 12 Application Process

• Students should apply by 1 March.

• Students should accept the school’s conditional offer and rank their preferences.

• Priority will be given to existing students transferring from Year 11 who meet the below entry criteria.

• Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar operates a sixth form for a total of 400 students. 200 places overall will be available in year 12.

• The Published Admission Number (PAN) for year 12 is 20. This is the number of places which will be offered on an annual basis to eligible external applicants. If fewer than 180 of the school’s own year 11 pupils transfer into year 12, additional external pupils will be admitted until year 12 meets its capacity of 200.

• Students who apply after March 1st deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Those who have studied in international schools abroad who have studied other types of qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. A wide range of subjects will need to be studied at Level 2. A meeting with the AHT for the Sixth Form will be held to identify that relevant comparable entry criteria are met. The school will be the sole arbiter of measures of equivalence when students have sat examinations other than GCSEs.

• Those who have not studied GCSEs should contact the school in advance of applying via Kent Choices.

• For variations and new courses that are not offered at GCSE, please visit our website: www.langton.kent.sch.uk

Entry Criteria

All students need to meet the following to gain a place in Year 12 at Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School:

a) A minimum of 8 GCSEs grades 9-5, including 6 grades 6s*

b) A minimum grade 5 in their best English and Mathematics

c) The specific entry requirements for the A Levels they wish to study

d) If a student meets a) and b) but not c) we may be able to offer them an alternative programme of study once the over-subscription criteria have been applied

*This requirement can be waived where there are special extenuating reasons why an applicant has not met this standard.

Oversubscription Criteria

Following the enrolment of internal students transferring from Year 11, all remaining places will be allocated to students who, based on GCSE grades gained in August, are meeting our general entry requirements. Where there are more students seeking places than the number of places available, the oversubscription criteria will be applied in the priority order set out below to rank eligible students (i.e., those who have met our above entry criteria), until the overall figure for the year group is reached. Before applying the oversubscription criteria, children with an Education and Health Care Plan which names the school will be admitted; published admissions numbers will be reduced accordingly.

a) Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order and children adopted from state care outside of England and who meet the above entry criteria. A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with an accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition is Section 221 (1) of the Children Act 1989).

b) Current Year 11 students from Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School who meet the above entry criteria.

c) Children in receipt of Pupil Premium – a child is eligible for Pupil Premium where they have been registered for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last 6 years and who meet the above entry criteria. This does not

include students who have only been eligible to receive Universal Infant Free School Meals. Pupil Premium is also afforded to Children in Local Authority Care or Previously in Local Authority Care; however, these children are prioritised in the relevant criteria above.

d) An application from the child of a current serving member of the Armed Forces Community (with supporting evidence)

e) External students who have met the above entry criteria.

Where two applicants have an otherwise equal priority under the oversubscription criteria, the following tie-break will apply:

i. Eligible students who are likely to achieve the highest academic grades based on GCSE attainment. This will be measured by ranked average predicted grade in their best 8 qualifications, the highest score being given the highest rank. The school will be the sole arbiter of measures of equivalence when students have sat examinations other than GCSEs. IGCSEs are considered to be equal to GCSE grades.

ii. The nearness of an applicant’s home address to school. Distance is measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point data. Distances are measured from a point defined as within the applicant’s home to a point defined as within the school as specified by NLPG. The same address point on the school site is used for everybody


Course Summary

Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School has one of the few Classics departments in Kent. For Latin, we study the poets, historians, lawyers and politicians of ancient Rome such as Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Livy, Caesar and Cicero. We also write essays about the authors and learn to analyse Latin texts, all of which provide an excellent preparation for university.

Course Details

Outline of the Course
OCR’s A Level in Latin allows learners to develop their understanding of the Latin language and the related ancient literature, values and society. It enables students to:
• acquire the language skills which enable learners to read literary texts, both prose and verse, in the original language
• develop an interest in, and enthusiasm for, the literary, historical and cultural features of the ancient world
• acquire the literary skills which enable learners to read ancient literature, both prose and verse, in its original language with appropriate attention to literary techniques, styles and genres
• apply analytical and evaluative skills at an appropriate level which show direct engagement with original texts in the ancient language
• make an informed personal response to the material studied
• begin to develop a sensitive and analytical approach to language generally
• develop research and analytical skills to enable them to become independent learners

Component 1: Unseen Translation – Students build their knowledge of and fluency in the Latin language, including vocabulary, linguistic structures, and style to enable them to translate unseen passages of Latin prose and verse.
Component 2: Prose Composition or Comprehension – Students develop and demonstrate their knowledge of vocabulary and language structure by: – translating unseen material from English to Latin; or showing understanding of an unseen prose text through comprehension and questions on grammar and syntax.
Component 3: Prose Literature – Students will be introduced to a range of prose authors, including Tacitus, Apuleius, Caesar; Students taking A Level in 2027-2028 will study Cicero’s Pro Roscio
Component 4: Verse Literature – Students will be introduced to a range of verse authors, including Catullus and Ovid; Students taking A Level in 2027-2028 will study Virgil’s Aeneid IV depicting the love affair between Dido and Aeneas.
Both literature components involve translation of the text, literary analysis and commentary, and essays.



How will it be delivered and assessed?

Type of Assessment Duration Weighting

1 Unseen Translation 1 hour 45 minutes 33%

2 Comprehension/Prose Composition 1 hour 15 minutes 17%

3 Prose Literature 2 hours 25%

4 Verse Literature 2 hours 25%

Entry requirements

Minimum Entry Criteria

Essential: 7 in Latin

Your next steps...

Latin is highly regarded by universities and employers. It could lead to a degree in Classics, in Latin alone or in a combined course combining Latin with English or a modern language. It could also provide a preparation for students wishing to take a degree in a related area of study where the focus is on the study of Language, Literature, History or Philosophy. Typical careers followed by students of Latin include the law, the civil service, media, journalism, teaching, the foreign office, computing, administration, advertising and the arts.


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