§ Miss WiddecombeTo 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]
§ Mr. MilibandThe 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.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo 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]
§ Mr. MilibandThe percentage of students taking Latin GCSE, and the percentage taking Latin A-level in each of the specified years is as follows:
432W
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.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo 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]
§ Mr. MilibandThe percentage of GCSE students who took Latin GCSE are as follows:
GCSE Percentage 1992 2.1 1980 4.9 The number of GCSE students who took Latin GCSE is as follows:
GCSE Number 1992 11,351 1980 26,547 Note:
Figures for 1992 are provided instead of 1990 as figures for this year are unavailable.