Latin

Latin Curriculum

Quest Primary uses the Minimus scheme of work and resources to ensure we offer a broad, vibrant and ambitious languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes.

The four key language learning skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing are all taught, and all necessary grammar is covered in an age-appropriate way across KS2. This enables pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning becoming life-long language learners and also helping children improve overall attainment in other subject areas.

We aim for all pupils to develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning Latin will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences.

All classes will be taught the curriculum using the Minimus scheme of work and resources. This progressively develops pupil skills in Latin through regularly taught and well-planned lessons in Key Stage 2. Latin is taught in unit blocks, for three half terms a year, once a week for between 45-60 minutes, following a bespoke scheme of work that is closely based on the Minimus scheme of work. The ‘Minimus: Starting out in Latin’ is a unique course providing a lively introduction to the Latin language and the culture of Roman Britain. Led by Minimus the mouse, pupils learn basic grammar and Latin vocabulary through stories featuring a real family who lived at Vindolanda. At the same time, pupils’ knowledge of Roman Britain is broadened by way of a vividly illustrated range of myths and background information. Children will progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes, building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language. Lessons offering appropriate levels of challenge and stretch are taught at all times to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for Latin.

Children will build on previous knowledge gradually as their Latin lessons continue to recycle, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Knowledge and awareness of required and appropriate grammar concepts will be taught throughout all units at all levels of challenge.

Latin will be planned to build on prior learning and supplement the teaching of reading and writing. Upon initial implementation of teaching of Latin at Quest Primary in 2024-25, Years 3,4,5&6 will have the same starting point on the programme of study. After the first year of implementation, subsequent Year 3 classes will have the same starting point (Unit 1) and Years 4,5&6 will continue to progress where they left off in the previous year group. This will continue until a full Year-by-Year group scheme of work can be applied. 2027-28 will therefore be the first year where each Year group is working at their age-related curriculum level.

Pupil learning and progression will be assessed at regular intervals and formally at the end of each unit of learning. The opportunity to assess pupil learning and progression in the key language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and against the 12* DfE Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2 attainment targets is provided at the end of each 6-week teaching unit via a Ready-to-Progress Assessment, as well as the teacher’s understanding of the child’s progress during lessons.

*Not all applicable to ancient languages