Inner-City Latin

Inspired by the work of the Latin Programme, the staff and pupils of St Peter’s Eaton Square decided to embrace the traditions of the ancient world by giving their annual Sports Day a Latin theme. The children prepared banners which staff and parents used to enthusiastically cheer on the competitors, yelling Latin words of encouragement. For those going for gold, there was the motto nulli secundus/secunda (second to none), those trying to beat their personal best took encouragement from vincit qui se vincit (he who conquers himself is victorious), and for those bringing up the rear, there was nil desperandum (never despair).  

This nod to the ancient world does seem rather apt given that the Greeks gave us the Olympic Games and the Romans carried on the tradition of competitive sport.  Transported to ancient Rome you might have seen gladiatorial contests in the Colosseum or chariot-racing in the Circus Maximus, and we also have the Romans to thank for the motto mens sana in sano corpore (a healthy mind in a healthy body).

The Latin Programme currently teaches 150 children at St Peter’s.  They have achieved such impressive results to their literacy levels that the school has now designated Latin as their Foreign Language, meaning that it is taught all the way through Key Stage 2 in Years 3 through 6.  We know that the more years of Latin students have the greater the impact on their literacy levels and by extension their life chances.  After one year of Latin, 60% of students in the programme achieve expected literacy levels, this rises to 78% after two years and to an amazing 98% after three.  Nicola Cottier, Headteacher at St Peter’s, describes the Latin Programme’s presence as a “fantastic development", commenting that "the children love it”.

Thank you for helping us improve literacy among disadvantaged and at risk children in London – we think the results speak for themselves! 

Links:

• Head Teacher explaining why her students love Latin