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Independent sector praised for backing Latin

Posted on 7th January 2008

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Children who attend independent schools are more likely to benefit from Latin lessons than their state-educated counterparts, the findings of a new survey have revealed.

A report by the Cambridge Schools Classics Project (CSCP) showed that 453 private schools now offer Latin to 12 to 14-year-olds, compared with 471 non-selective and 118 grammar schools in the much larger state sector.

Will Griffiths, director of CSCP, said the figures demonstrated the subject is enjoying something of a resurgence in state schools, but insisted more children need access to Latin tuition.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "It is great that the independent sector continues to back the subject, but 90 per cent of children are educated in non-selective state schools and it is important that they have the same curriculum options."

Latin is an important subject because it helps to teach children about language, history and literature, as well giving them a grounding in several modern European languages, added Mr Griffiths.

The news comes just two months after a report by the National Centre for Languages concluded that while independent schools continue to support the teaching of modern languages, the same level of backing is not there across the whole state sector.

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