The government is launching a new Latin Excellence Programme to introduce teaching of the ancient language into more state schools.
The aim of the drive is to ensure the subject is not “reserved for the privileged few” and to encourage take up of other foreign languages, The Daily Telegraph reports.
The Latin Excellence Programme will see thousands of state school pupils in deprived parts of the country offered Latin lessons, and £4m has been set aside for the project.
From next September, 40 state schools in England will be selected to take part in a four-year pilot of the programme, aimed at improving uptake of Latin at GCSE. Staff at each school will be trained and given classroom resources to assist them in teaching Latin to children aged 11 to 16.
Latin is taught in just 2.7 per cent of state secondary schools, compared to 49 per cent of private schools, according to the British Council’s latest report on language trends.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “We know Latin has a reputation as an elitist subject which is only reserved for the privileged few. 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.”