The survival of Latin and Greek in schools will not be helped by misleading claims and misinformation (“Classic case of lack of options”, TES, August 6).
It is not true that “state schools generally prefer the AQA course”: in 2003, 59 per cent of all state school candidates for GCSE Latin took the OCR board examination at higher or foundation tier (2003 Inter-Board Statistics, AQA 2004).
Nor is it true that that OCR’s Latin GCSE course includes compulsory coursework. Coursework is one of four options, from which candidates choose two.
OCR has wide experience of supporting teachers in the maintained, independent and FE sectors.
It is anxious to support teachers of the AQA specifications who wish to continue teaching Latin and Greek.
With this in mind it is already reviewing its specifications at the invitation of QCA, and is in consultation with teachers, subject specialist organisations and university departments. OCR is committed to protecting and promoting the teaching and examining of Classics for students at GCSE, AS and A level, whatever their type of school or experience of learning Latin and Greek.
Adrian Barlow
OCR Chair of Examiners in Classics
I Regent Street
Cambridgeshire
