LATIN lessons are coming back to life for nine state schools across the county thanks to an Oxford University outreach programme.

The Oxford Classics Faculty’s Latin Teaching Scheme (OXLAT) will support 30 pupils learning Latin for GCSE.

While teaching begins next month, the scheme officially launched on Saturday with an induction day.

Students will be taught Latin for two hours every weekend for two-and-a-half years in the run-up to the exams.

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The university’s Regius Professor of Greek, Chris Pelling, was appointed by former Education Secretary Michael Gove in February to lead the drive to support Latin teaching in state schools.

He said: “There is a surge of interest in Latin in schools nationally, with nearly twice as many state schools offering Latin now as five years ago.

“But there are still many schools who are unable to timetable the subject or have no-one to teach it, and we can do something to help.

“Like so many others, I was very lucky myself to go to a terrific state school who gave me my own opportunities, including that of learning classical languages.

“I am so pleased that we can offer something at least of the same to a new generation.”

The scheme originally ran from 2008 to 2012, but had to stop when its departmental funding ended.

Now, thanks to a donation from the Stonehouse Educational Foundation and the University’s Van Houten Fund, the programme has rerturned and is set to continue until at least 2018.

It is open to year 8 or 9 students at state schools that do not currently have any Latin provision.

University spokeswoman Julia Paolitto said: “Despite being an intensive weekend commitment alongside other schoolwork, the first programme had an extremely low dropout rate.

“Many of the students enjoyed learning Latin so much that they went on to study it at A-Level and several have gone on to pursue classics at university.

“Of the original cohort of students, several are studying classics at university, including two at Oxbridge.”

THE SCHOOLS TAKING PART

  • Matthew Arnold School, Oxford
  • Bartholomew School, Eynsham
  • Chenderit, Banbury
  • Chipping Norton School
  • The Cooper School, Bicester
  • The Henry Box School, Witney
  • Icknield Community College, Watlington
  • Marlborough School, Woodstock
  • St Birinus, Didcot


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