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Why studyclassical Greek?Last year, Dorset House School, Sussex, re-introduced the studyof classical Greek for those who would benefit from tackling this tricky language. Thosewho were chosen for the challenge certainly enjoyed their studies. There is little doubt,however, that learning classical Greek takes time and commitment. So why, when studentsare already working so hard, should they study what is, after all, a dead language?Head of RS and Greek, Fr David Twinley reflects....There was a time when afirst-rate education at one ofour great public schools wassynonymous with a classicaleducation. However, this focuson the ancient civilisations ofGreece and Rome was not borneof mere fascination with thedistant past, but the realisationthat these ancient peoples hadmuch to teach us about our owntimes. One can imagine the smileon the schoolmaster’s face whena hapless student, strugglingwith his Latin declensions, wouldmutter the perennial question:What have the Romans ever donefor us? Here was his chance, hisopportunity to enlighten thestudent’s mind and demonstratethat those who desire to reachnew heights must first learn tostand on the shoulders of thegiants who have gone beforeus. The Roman world mayseem like ancient history tothe uninformed, but to those34 Independent Schools Magazinewho care to enquire it is thefoundation on which muchof our western civilisation hasbeen built. But if the westernworld looked to the Romans forinspiration, to whom did theRomans look? The Greeks.Few today appreciate that muchof what we take for grantedstems from ancient Greece.Turn on the television to watcha drama or go to the theatreand immediately the world ofancient Greece is near. Indeedthe words drama (δραμα/drama) and theatre (θεατρον/theatron) are themselves takenfrom Greek. Or exercise yourright to vote and the Greeks arepeering over your shoulder. Boththe notion of democracy andthe word itself (δημος/dēmos =people, κρατεω/krateō = rule)come from classical Greek. Ifmathematics is your subjectthen you will want to look toPythagoras and Archimedes—weFr David Twinley is also Vicar of Bury with Houghton & Coldwaltham & Hardham, and Rural Dean of Petworth.Girls inspired into scienceGirls at Dame Allan’s Schools, Tyne & Wear, have been inspired to pursuescience, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers after a lesson withDurham University Professor and former pupil at the school, Ruth Gregory.Professor Gregory, who specialises in Maths and Physics, took a Year 11 girls’physics class entitled ‘Time and Extra Dimensions in Space’ discussing blackholes, the galaxy and more, with a Dr Who inspired twist.The lesson aimed to encourage girls’ involvement and engagement inthe sciences and also touched on the exciting career prospects it canhold for them.Professor Gregory was a role model to inspire the girls, having been the firstwoman to win the prestigious Maxwell Medal by the Institute of Physics forher work into understanding the structure of the universe.all need the occasional eureka(εὑρηκα/heureka = I have foundit). Personally, I enjoy philosophy(yes, another word that comesfrom Greek: φιλος/philos = love,σοφια/sophia = wisdom), andso Plato and Aristotle are neverfar from mind. If you are stillunconvinced that the ancientGreeks are ever-present in ourmodern world then open amedical dictionary and you willdiscover that many medical termsare based on Greek words, or doa little research into Herodotusand you will discover that everyhistory book you have read oweshim a debt of gratitude.Of course, we can learn all aboutthe influence of the ancientGreeks on western civilisationwithout taking the trouble tolearn the language. So, thequestion remains: why learnclassical Greek? Well, thereare those who argue that theexercise of grappling with sucha difficult language is a greatway to stretch the mind andimprove overall academic ability.It also looks very impressive ona CV! Others argue that learningclassical Greek is a sure wayto improve our knowledge ofEnglish grammar and enrichour vocabulary (many modernEnglish words have Greek roots,especially scientific terms). Forme, however, it is the sheer joyof being able to read some ofthe world’s greatest literature,not least the New Testament, inits original language. The poetryof Homer is legendary, andno translation can ever do fulljustice to the rhythm of his epicpoems Iliad and Odyssey. Andalthough a fine translation ofthe prologue to St John’s gospelis not without beauty, it is onlywhen those immortal lines arespoken in their original tonguethat my breath is truly takenaway.HMC develops newteacher training andrecruitment programmeThe Headmasters’ andHeadmistresses’ Conference(HMC), is launching a newsecondary school teacherrecruitment and trainingprogramme – HMC TeacherTraining - to encourage newteachers into the professionand enable them to train in asalaried post while working atan HMC school.Over a two-year programme,trainee teachers will gain aPGCE with Qualified TeacherStatus, preparing them for acareer in teaching in eitherindependent or maintainedschools in the UK.All 260 HMC schools acrossthe UK, as well as HMCinternational schools, canparticipate in the scheme, andit is anticipated that in thefirst year around 100 traineeplaces will be available.Recruitment will start inNovember, with candidatesattending training sessions inAugust 2015 before taking upteaching posts at HMC schoolsin September 2015. Employerschools will set out the criteriaand a job specification foreach role advertised by HMCTeacher Training.Richard Harman, Headmasterof Uppingham School andChairman of HMC, said:‘The identification, training,recruitment and retention ofgood teachers are vital to anyschool’s success. And goodteachers are remembered bytheir pupils for the rest of theirlives. Teaching can be a toughjob but it can be wonderfullyfulfilling. Yet, there is a woefulnational shortage of teachers.By introducing this scheme,HMC gives would-be teachers aflexible route into initial trainingand a strong foundation for acareer in teaching, and possiblyschool leadership. I look forwardto welcoming one of the firstrecruits to Uppingham nextyear.’Chris King, Headmaster ofLeicester Grammar School andChairman Elect of HMC (2015-16), who has been responsiblefor the development ofHMC Teacher Training, said:’Shrinking numbers of PGCEplaces in universities meansa risk of reduction in highqualityteacher traineesentering the profession. HMCis committed to ongoingprofessional development,and this new scheme,established in response todemand, offers our schoolsthe chance to help those newto the teaching profession.It will be available to thosetrainees who demonstrate astrong motivation for teachingand who have an excellentacademic background.’HMC Teacher Training willenable trainees to gainQualified Teacher Status (QTS)while teaching their specialistsubject at an HMC school.The training will include aPGCE leading to QTS in Year1, and statutory inductionvia the Independent SchoolsTeacher Induction Panel (IStip)in Year 2. The PGCE will bedelivered by the University ofBuckingham for the majorityof trainees. The contract willinitially be for two years,though it is anticipatedthat many trainees will beemployed by their school afterthis period.The two-year full-timeprogramme will providea blend of professionaldevelopment, including: ‘onthe job’ training across a widerange of subject specialisms,with support from a trainedin-school mentor; tutorsupport from the PGCEprovider; HMC-led residentialtraining events; peernetworking opportunities; andplacements and visits to otherparticipating schools.School launchesinnovative6th-form awardLady Elizabeth Godolphin, thefounder of the Godolphin School,Wiltshire, was a woman of energy,tenacity and vision, and a newaward which bears her name is atwo-year programme available togirls studying A-levels at Godolphindesigned to offer girls an extensionto their academic education.At the launch held last month(September), Mrs Emma Hattersley,Head said: “As educators I believeit is our responsibility not onlyto help our students achieveoptimum academic results but alsoto educate them for the broaderchallenges of life and work beyondschool. The Elizabeth GodolphinAward will directly address the skillsdeficit that many organisations haveidentified in young adults emergingfrom education. The award willfacilitate Godolphin leaverswho are confident, independentindividuals and who can articulatean informed point of view on arange of subjects both globally andwithin specific communities. It willalso teach competence in a raftof practical skills spanning topicsincluding for example: computerliteracy, financial matters, andcommunication and presentationskills. The overarching idea is to giveour girls an accredited qualificationthat will carry weight and meaningin practical terms and also givethem a real edge as they progressinto the world.We are very proud and excitedto launch this new initiativeand to name it after theschool’s founder, Lady ElizabethGodolphin. We feel the awardfully endorses the spirit of heroriginal passionate commitmentto providing an excellent anduseful all round education forgirls but places it firmly in a21st century context. I hopemany generations of Godolphingirls will benefit from achievingan EGA and that it will boosttheir confidence, expertise andemployability.”Guest speaker at the launch was MrJohn Beard, who has had a careerin businesses recruiting both newlyqualified graduates and schoolleavers. He was proud to lead acompany that was consistently inthe top ten of The Sunday TimesBest Companies annual awardsand his three daughters wereeducated at Godolphin. Mr Beardsaid he thought the programmewas innovative and exciting andwould certainly give girls educatedat Godolphin an advantage whenlooking for employment.Pictured: Mr John Beard, businessman, Mrs Bethan Ferguson, EGA coordinator, portrait ofLady Elizabeth Godolphin, Mrs Emma Hattersley, Head, Dr Alistair Dougall, Head of Sixth FormIndependent Schools Magazine 35