Classics

Dean Close has a vibrant and academically high-achieving Classics Department. It is our proud vaunt that the national decline in these subjects has been reversed at Dean Close through sound teaching and a commitment to making the ancient world accessible via theatre performances, museum visits, a programme of lectures given by eminent Classicists and the biennial Classics trip.

Classics Handbook 2019

Helicon Volume 2

Helicon Volume 3

Virgil Seminar

19 Latinists in Form 5 enjoyed a Virgil seminar led by Mr Allen and Miss Stewart on Tuesday afternoon and evening. This was an excellent revision opportunity – the Latin GCSE students are studying excerpts from Books 4 and 6 of the Aeneid, tracing the doomed relationship between Aeneas and the Carthaginian queen, Dido. The students...

Classical Association – May 2019

Dr Genevieve Liveley, reader in Classics at Bristol University and the author of Ovid’s Love Songs, an exceptional study of the poet’s love poetry, delivered a stimulating talk (without recourse to any notes at all!) on the character of Narcissus as presented in book III of the Metamorphoses. Dr Lively paid due attention to Ovid’s love of...

Wilson Challenge 2019

This year’s Wilson Challenge, the School’s Classics competition, focused on the rich legacy of the Ancient Greek world. Contestants were asked to consider the achievements of a historical figure like Socrates or Pericles and analyse his importance to the development of the modern world. Presentations were made on figures as diverse as Pythagoras, Diogenes the Cynic, Aristotle and Alexander...

Trip to the British Museum

Members of the Upper Sixth Classical Civilisation set who are studying Greek Art, accompanied by the Lower Sixth Latinists, enjoyed a rewarding trip to the British Museum on Thursday, in spite of the early start (6.45am) and the interminable progress through London. Our pupils were able to view many of the sculptures and vases that they...

Dr Adrian Kelly: Odysseus and the Epic Hero

On a very cold winter’s night, the Gloucestershire Classical Association was able to offer a warm welcome to Dean Close to our guest speaker, Dr Adrian Kelly, Associate Professor of Classical Languages and Literature at the University of Oxford and a fellow of Balliol College. Dr Kelly possesses a deep love of Homer and is...

Classical Association

We were delighted to welcome Susan Deacy, Professor of Classics at the University of Roehampton to Cheltenham on Thursday evening. Susan’s scholarly interests include gender, sexuality, ancient Greek mythology and religion. She is also an expert on the teaching of subjects which are potentially sensitive, including sexual and domestic violence, disability and infanticide; Susan is the series editor...

Gratinists Trip to Roman Baths

On Wednesday 17th October, the Classics department took 18 enthusiastic Fifth Form Gratinists to visit the Roman baths. We set off bright and early and gave the pupils plenty of time to explore the complex. Each pupil received a headset which provided them with all the information they needed as they inspected the ancient artefacts and...

Cheltenham Literature Festival

The trek into town on a Sunday morning was more than worth it: a group of 12 Latinists with their teachers were treated to a wonderful talk delivered by Professor Mary Beard (Britain’s most recognisable Classicist) and Dr Llewelyn Morgan of Brasenose College, Oxford. Continuing with their series, How To Read A Latin Poem, (now in...

Classical Association

We have welcomed lots of excellent speakers to Dean Close over the years but the performance of Professor Stephen Oakley of Emmanuel College, Cambridge must rank amongst the very best. Professor Oakley delivered a stunning talk on the style of the Roman historian Tacitus which was wide-ranging, informative and a timely reminder to all of...

Summer 2018 Blog

Thursday April 26th 2018 Classical Association We were delighted to welcome Professor Alison Sharrock of Manchester University to DCS to talk about the Roman love elegist, Ovid. Ovid’s Amores is an A level set text and the scholars gained a great deal of insight into Ovid’s humorous subversion of the genre of love poetry as...

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Pre-Preparatory _(2-7)

Dean Close Pre-Preparatory School, fondly known as the ‘Squirrels’, is set in the beautiful grounds of Dean Close School, in a modern, purpose-built building. We have excellent facilities and resources and also benefit from being able to share in the outstanding Preparatory and Senior School facilities on site. We understand that a child’s first experience of school is a vital step in their learning journey, developing the knowledge, skills and self-confidence which lay the foundations for their lives.

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Preparatory School _(7-13)

Dean Close Preparatory School is a co-educational day and boarding school for children age 7 – 13. The school is set in 50 acres of private land near the centre of Cheltenham. With 310 pupils, the Preparatory School is small enough to allow everyone to know one another and get fully involved in the life of the School.

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Senior _(13-18)

Set in 50 beautiful acres, Dean Close is a long-standing co-educational day and boarding school for 13-18 year olds, where visitors regularly comment on the atmosphere, saying how warm and friendly they find it.

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