To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to prevent a decline in the number of schools teaching Latin. [105193]
The National Curriculum requirement is that all maintained secondary schools should offer one of the working languages of the European Union—French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Modern Greek, Portuguese. Over and above that, it is for schools to decide which and how many additional languages they choose to offer.The Department is keen to promote the diversification of languages. The introduction of our specialist language colleges for example is broadening the range of languages being taught.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students took Latin at A-level in (i) 1980 and (ii) 1990. [105409]
The percentage of students taking Latin GCSE, and the percentage taking Latin A-level in each of the specified years is as follows:
GCSE
| A-level
| |
| 2000 | 1.7 | 0.5 |
| 1992 | 2.1 | 0.9 |
| 1980 | 4.9 | 2.1 |
The number of students who took Latin at GCSE and A-level is as follows:
GCSE
| A-level
| |
| 2000 | 9,594 | 1,160 |
| 1992 | 11,351 | 1,511 |
| 1980 | 26,547 | 2,575 |
Note:
Figures for 1992 are provided instead of 1990 as figures for this year are unavailable.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of GCSE students took Latin GCSE (or 0-level as appropriate) in (a) 1980 and (b) 1990. [105410]
The percentage of GCSE students who took Latin GCSE are as follows:
| GCSE | |
| Percentage | |
| 1992 | 2.1 |
| 1980 | 4.9 |
| GCSE | |
| Number | |
| 1992 | 11,351 |
| 1980 | 26,547 |
Note:
Figures for 1992 are provided instead of 1990 as figures for this year are unavailable.