Intent

We teach a sequence of Latin that enables pupils to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the foundations of the English language, in particular, grammar and etymology (where words come from). Using skills learned in reading and spelling and many cross-curricular links we broaden and extend pupils' vocabulary and reading comprehension through Latin. Teaching Latin also provides a strong foundation for learning languages and prepares pupils for key stage three. The Latin curriculum and Manor Leas Junior Academy follows the knowledge based approach, which in turn develops children's confidence in their ability and enables a sense of achievement to be enjoyed. 

Implementation 

By using the 'Minimus' Latin course, pupils are introduced to Latin through exciting lessons that follow the life of a real Roman family, who lived at Vindolanda, a Roman fort just south of Hadrian's wall, in 100AD.  Each lesson is taught through a mixture of comic strips, historical evidence, stories and myths from the Roman and Greek ancient civilisations. Teachers use modelling, scaffolding, questioning and varied independent tasks to engage pupils and embed learning. The DfE recommend that ‘A linguistic foundation in ancient languages may support the study of modern languages at key stage 3.’ During this course, children will become familiar with vocabulary that will not only support their study of languages at secondary school; but it will also allow children to deepen their understanding of words in their favourite books. For example, JK Rowling used a lot of Latin for the spells and character names in her book series. 

To assess Latin, teachers use low stakes quizzes to retrieve prior learning and end of chapter, multiple choice quizzes are used as well to assess children's knowledge.

Impact

By the end of KS2, pupils will have a basic understanding of Latin vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. They will recognize Latin roots in English words and demonstrate increased confidence in literacy and language skills. Pupils will have a foundational understanding of Roman culture and its influence on modern society, fostering curiosity about history and languages. The curriculum equips pupils with transferable skills that support the learning of modern foreign languages in secondary education while nurturing a lifelong appreciation for classical studies.