The UK government plans to stop funding the Latin Excellence Programme that has brought Latin to state schools in England in Keystage 3 and 4. The government does this in the middle of the school year, which means that it endangers the GCSE exams of Year 11 students. The programme cost 4 million sterling in 2022-2026, which means the savings are small in comparison to the disruption. The programme was created to shed the elitist kudos of this subject, highly appreciated by the graduate employers when studied at the Russell Universities. Many of the schools affected are inner city schools and thus abolishing this programme diminishes the opportunities available to the students.

This plan increases the inequality of state school pupils by suggesting that Latin as a subject should only be taught in private schools. It diminishes the selection available and lacks ambition.

Latin teaches children grammar and vocabulary that is at the core of English and did develop into Romance languages. It helps in learning other European languages.  Many terms in biology and medicine are Latin. Latin literature is formed of classics and Latin was once the official language in Britain. The Roman ruins are still visible around Britain and thus Latin lessons can improve the local knowledge of the children.

This petition pleas the Department of Education to reconsider and save the funding to the Latin Excellence Programme.