Revival of Latin in schools!

A world-leading language project based at the University of Cambridge is rekindling an international love of Latin.

Four million copies of the Cambridge Latin Course (CLC) have now been sold around the world, which have helped an estimated eight million students.

The course is part of the Cambridge School Classics Project which was set up 40 years ago and now supports 1,100 schools in the UK and 500 adult learners from China to Chile.

Worldwide, more than 85 per cent of all schools now use the Cambridge course which features the everyday life of Pompeiian folk before the volcanic eruption.

This, along with a wealth of online resource has brought global fame for its characters including Caecilius, the father, Grumio, the cook and Cerberus, the dog.

Director Will Griffiths said the project had helped revive the teaching of Latin, especially in state schools.

"Ten years ago around 150 state schools taught Latin. Now that figure is 650, including 58 state schools which joined in this academic year.