All girls take Latin in Year 8 and most of the year group opt to continue in Year 9, with healthy numbers choosing to continue to GCSE and A level. The Cambridge Latin Course provides a stimulating variety of linguistic, historical and cultural material and discussion of a wide range of human issues forms a key role in the lessons. Dramatic interpretation of the reading passages lends itself to class plays and there is keen uptake of the opportunity to perform these at the school Eisteddfod. Girls produce a high standard of art work which is on display in the classroom and corridors. Trips to local sites, museum visits, and visiting storytellers and lecturers all enhance the language learning.

In the sixth form Classical Civilisation has attracted large numbers at AS and A level, and provides a successful combination with both arts and science subjects. Latin at AS and A level has proved to be an equally good mixer and some students opt to study both Latin and Classical Civilisation. Students regularly gain places to read Classics and related subjects at Oxford and Cambridge. We continue to take classes on visits to lectures and sites and in recent years Howell’s Sixth Form students have produced a Greek comedy by Aristophanes and taken part in a trip to Athens and the Peloponnese.