We Teach Latin!

Finding out about 'The World within a Word'

It is an expectation that pupils should leave school knowing between 50,000 – 60,000 words to thrive academically and beyond. Evidence shows that 60% of the English vocabulary is drawn from a combination of Latin and Greek origins, with the more technical vocabulary of school reaching even higher to approximately 90%.  

A single Latin root can generate over 100 words. So, 10 roots can give a child more than 1,000 words they can decrypt on their own. 

This is just one of the reasons why here at Maryvale Catholic Primary School, in Key Stage 2, we are taking the leap to begin teaching all children in Years 3 - 6 Latin.  

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The aim of the Ancient Foreign Language Curriculum is to provide all children, regardless of their needs and abilities, with the opportunity to achieve their full potential; fully reflecting on the school’s ethos.
By developing language and understanding the origin of the English Vocabulary, pupils are given a broader insight into how the English language has been shaped and adapted throughout history.
By revisiting different word classes in a range of new ways children, who often struggle with work, can gain an insight into where many popular languages come from. This adaptive teaching style of pre-tutoring will also give them fundamental knowledge for when they are given a chosen language in Secondary School.