Latin to be taught in state schools in a bid to make the language less ‘elitist’

Latin to be taught in state schools in a bid to make the language less ‘elitist’

  • A £4m Latin Excellence Programme will see the language offered to 40 schools
  • Staff will be trained and given resources to teach 11 to 16-year-olds
  • Gavin Williamson said: ‘We know Latin has a reputation as an elitist subject’ 
  • He added: ‘But the subject can bring so many benefits to young people’

Latin lessons will be offered to thousands of state school pupils as part of an effort to make the language less ‘elitist’.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said a new programme would ensure the subject was not ‘for the privileged few’.

The Department for Education’s £4million Latin Excellence Programme will see the ancient language offered to 40 state schools in England as part of a four-year pilot, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Staff at the selected schools will be trained and given resources to teach Latin to 11 to 16-year-olds.

Mr Williamson said: ‘We know Latin has a reputation as an elitist subject which is only reserved for the privileged few.

A £4 million Latin Excellence Programme will see the ancient language offered to 40 state schools in England as part of a four-year pilot (file image) 

‘But the subject can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an end to that divide.

‘There should be no difference in what pupils learn at state schools and independent schools, which is why we have a relentless focus on raising school standards and ensuring all pupils study a broad, ambitious curriculum.’

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said a new programme would ensure the subject was not 'for the privileged few'

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said a new programme would ensure the subject was not ‘for the privileged few’

The move comes after research earlier this year revealed young children’s language skills have been impacted by the pandemic as the number of students needing help at school has soared.

The data from a company called Speech Link – used by schools to assess children’s language skills – shows that the number of four and five year olds needing help at school has risen by 25 per cent when compared to 2019.

The data is based on a study 50,000 children from primary schools in England and is reflected in findings by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), according to the BBC.

Research shows social distancing measures, lack of contact with family and friends and the wearing of face masks may all have had a detrimental impact on young children’s language skills.

In March 2020, schools and nurseries were closed as the country battled to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

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