Latin and ancient Greek are to make a comeback in state schools under Government plans to introduce compulsory language lessons for seven-year-olds.
For the first time, all children will be required to study a foreign language while at primary school, ministers announced yesterday.
Schools will be able to choose from a list of seven languages including Latin and ancient Greek.
Under a new national curriculum coming into force in September 2014, primary schools will be required to teach at least one language from the list.
The move – outlined in a consultation document published by the Department for Education – could result in a major rise in the number of pupils studying the classical languages at a young age.
According to officials, Latin and ancient Greek were included to “give primary schools further options”, with claims that they can provide a good grounding in grammar, syntax and vocabulary which can boost pupils’ understanding of other modern languages.
Currently, foreign language teaching is compulsory in state schools for only the first three years of secondary school.
(source: dailymail, telegraph)
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