‘Expelliarmus!’ The primary schools ditching French for Latin

Far from being a dead language, teachers say Latin helps children make connections in science, geography, history and Harry Potter
Nicola Woolcock
, Education Editor
The Times
Stanley Goodger, a Year 5 pupil at Guyhirn Church of England Primary School near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, enjoyed reading about Minimus the mouse in his Latin class
Stanley Goodger, a Year 5 pupil at Guyhirn Church of England Primary School near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, enjoyed reading about Minimus the mouse in his Latin class
CHRIS RADBURN FOR THE TIMES
Nicola Woolcock
, Education Editor
The Times

It came, it saw, it conquered. Latin is booming at some state schools, supplanting modern languages and capturing a new generation of classicists.

Now an academy trust has made it the main language at more than 20 of its primaries, with weekly lessons for seven to eleven-year-olds — so that it is not just the preserve of the wealthy.

It is thought to be the biggest single uptake of Latin for younger children. In total, almost 400 primary schools in England are estimated to be teaching the not-so-dead language.

Pupils said that learning Latin has helped them in other subjects — as well as letting them decode spells in Harry Potter
Pupils said that learning Latin has helped them in other subjects — as well as letting them decode spells in Harry Potter
CHRIS RADBURN FOR THE TIMES

Latin was adopted as the foreign language taught to seven to eleven-year-olds at the Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust after research showed this was likely to improve spelling, grammar and literacy levels across the board. But