Sir, One of our researchers recently spent five months telephoning every secondary school, state and independent, in the country and asking “Does your school offer Latin?”. In addition to the occasional delight of being routed to the dance department, we found that of the 1,081 secondary schools offering Latin, 634 are state schools and 447 are independent. Current indications are that a further 58 state schools will start offering Latin in September.
The rise of Latin in the state sector is due to a combination of factors: the Government’s “Gifted and Talented” initiative, £5 million DfES funding for digital materials to support the subject, funding for schools from the Friends of Classics and our own work supporting teachers and promoting the subject. New Latin qualifications from the WJEC examination board, whose first candidates receive their results today, are a further sign that the subject is re-establishing itself in the UK education system.
Will Griffiths
Director, University of Cambridge School Classics Project