Tory MP Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks) raised the issue of AQA's decision to drop Latin and Greek. He said :
"The OCR examination is better suited to youngsters who have learned the classics from a young age. That means it generally favours private school pupils. It is the way in which this decision was taken and the consequences which will follow from it which justifies describing it as an act of educational vandalism. It is almost worse; it is an omen of a darkening cultural winter. The path of learning needs many lamps and in two years time another will have been extinguished. That deeper understanding of our past and our present will be further confined to the privileged and paid for few.”
Schools Minister Stephen
Twigg said:
“I am urging AQA to reconsider their actions.
I am very disappointed at the way in which it has acted in making this decision. I share concerns about the failure to consult fully and in particular the failure to consult the subject associations in the field of classics. There are good grounds to argue that we may see a future increase in the number of candidates wanting to study Latin in particular at GCSE. I shall be writing to the AQA urging them to reconsider their decision, particularly in their failure to consult widely before reaching it. The subject committee had only heard of the move through media reports. The situation could have been handled much better. I am sure AQA have noted the widespread criticism they have received. Recent evidence suggests more and more pupils wish to take up classics – especially in the state sector. A cartoon book called Minimus Mouse aimed at teaching 10-13 year olds, has sold 50,000 copies worldwide."
Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) who went on to get a classical degree at university after studying Latin A-level at state school said:
"The decision comes at the same time as an “explosion” in interest in the classics because of films such as Troy and Gladiator."
“I am urging AQA to reconsider their actions.
I am very disappointed at the way in which it has acted in making this decision. I share concerns about the failure to consult fully and in particular the failure to consult the subject associations in the field of classics. There are good grounds to argue that we may see a future increase in the number of candidates wanting to study Latin in particular at GCSE. I shall be writing to the AQA urging them to reconsider their decision, particularly in their failure to consult widely before reaching it. The subject committee had only heard of the move through media reports. The situation could have been handled much better. I am sure AQA have noted the widespread criticism they have received. Recent evidence suggests more and more pupils wish to take up classics – especially in the state sector. A cartoon book called Minimus Mouse aimed at teaching 10-13 year olds, has sold 50,000 copies worldwide."
Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) who went on to get a classical degree at university after studying Latin A-level at state school said:
"The decision comes at the same time as an “explosion” in interest in the classics because of films such as Troy and Gladiator."
