Yorkshire school to stop teaching Latin after 600 years

A North Yorkshire school will stop teaching Latin for the first time in its 600-year history because of “funding restrictions”.

Richmond school, a comprehensive formerly known as Richmond grammar school, was officially ratified by Elizabeth I in 1568. Jenna Potter, its headteacher, announced on Sunday that it would stop offering the classical language to new pupils from next September.

Cathy Bothwell, Richmond’s former lead teacher for Latin and classics, said 12 students would sit GCSE Latin exams this summer and 17 the following summer, but there would be no more Latin classes after that.

“Cutting access to Latin affects social mobility,” she told the Yorkshire Post. “It is very hard to get access to Latin and the classics anywhere outside of London and the south-east of England. That has a knock-on effect on access to university degrees, especially at the leading universities.”

Potter said all schools were having to make adjustments to their curriculum offer because of funding restrictions. “After considering a number of factors, including exam results and student numbers, we have regrettably made the decision to cease offering Latin from September,” she said.

“Richmond school and sixth-form college’s broad and balanced curriculum will continue to consist of academic, practical and artistic subjects that promote the school’s vision of providing the best possible educational experiences and high quality outcomes for the young people of Richmondshire.”

Steven Hunt, president of the Association for Latin Teaching, said it was sad that Richmond was closing its “very strong” Latin department after so many centuries.

“Latin is quite popular still, and increasing in popularity in London and the south-east of England, but there are large swathes of the UK which simply are not moving forward in terms of getting more Latin into them,” he said.

Each year about 10,000 pupils take a GCSE in Latin and about 1,500 do an A-level. Hunt said there was a historical north/south divide when it came to Latin provision in schools.

“Classics has survived since the 1980s – after the national curriculum, which didn’t include classics – primarily in the grammar schools, which are heavily located in the south-east of England and in the private schools in the south-east of England.”

He said Latin was a valuable subject because “the Romans were really interesting people and you have to study them in their own words”. It gives you a true appreciation of the ancient worlds, which makes you reflect upon yourself in the modern world.”