On Tuesday 29th November, Miss Cavanagh took four LVI (year 12) Classicists to the annual GCA Reading Competition, this year held at Cheltenham Ladies College. The event was judged by Professor Claire Holleran from the University of Exeter and St Mary's had competitors entered into three of the seven categories.

The first category was ‘Senior Latin’ and both Tashy and Tilly took to the stage to compete in this hotly contested category. After nine pupils performed Catullus 76, Professor Claire Holleran awarded Tilly 1st place! She felt Tilly not only demonstrated good pronunciation but her performance showed a real understanding of the Latin.

Hannah was next to compete in the ‘Senior Greek’ category and was awarded 2nd place for her excellent rendition of Ajax, 296-316.

Finally Elyse and Tashy read their Classical Civilisation piece, an extract from Virgil, Aeneid 10 showing a conversation between Juno and Venus. Both pupils read with great expression and were awarded 2nd place.

Professor Claire Holleran awarded all pupils who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in their category with Waterstones vouchers. We left the competition feeling triumphant, with success for all our SMC competitors!

Miss Canvanagh, Classics Teacher