HC Deb 17 December 1984 vol 70 c10W
Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of the teaching of classical languages in maintained schools.

Mr. Dunn

The Department's 1981 publication "The School Curriculum" recognised that the study of classical languages introduces pupils to broad aspects of history and culture as well as to the disciplines of language and literature, and suggested that the teaching of classical subjects might benefit if provision were planned as a whole across local education authority areas. The place of classics in the school curriculum was also raised in the Department's discussion paper "The Organisation and Content of the 5–16 Curriculum", issued in September, on which comments were invited. A copy is available in the Library.