Our Classics Department have been spreading their love of Latin far and wide this term by introducing several exciting NHEHS firsts.

As part of our Outreach Programme, some of our Year 11 Latinists have been going to North Ealing Primary School to teach Year 5 pupils Latin, which they have loved!

Meanwhile here at school, we have introduced Latin lessons from Year 7 this year, using a brand new course, “De Romanis,” exploring the myths and culture of the Romans as well as the language. Not to be outdone, our NHEHS Juniors are also enjoying their first Latin lessons from Year 4 now, using Minimus, a basic Latin course based on the lives of a real family and a mouse (!) living at the Roman fort of Vindolanda.

The recent British Council survey on language trends confirms that the teaching of Latin in primary schools is on the rise with Latin now the fourth most taught language in primary schools after French, Spanish and German. Although only 2.3% of the primary schools sampled in the survey offered Latin, the increase is a reassuring sign that teachers across England increasingly understand the relevance and value of learning the language for younger pupils.