Should Latin be taught in state schools? The government is scrapping a programme which taught Latin to over 5,000 pupils. Professor of Social Mobility Lee Elliott Major tells #R4Today it would be a ‘tragedy if Latin becomes a preserve of the privileged’.

I reiterate that Music is every bit as important as Latin and is being sidelined in schools - not all, but too many. In my local school there is no choir, no orchestra, no music provision except a few, as I understand it, voluntary lessons in early years. Deeply irresponsible.

I wish I'd carried on with Latin , it actually turned out to be very useful. Essential for anyone wanting to do medicine, science or languages. Shouldn't be the preserve of the rich.

There is no interest in social mobility from our leaders. Public services have been devastated in order to reinforce the wealth of the already very wealthy. The real “hard choices” would be to make the people who have taken so much out, pay back in to our communities!

There are slightly under 2 million 16 y.o. While very nice for the 5000 they are a drop in the ocean. Timetables are full, and option choices limited. What goes to make way for Latin? It is not required by universities, employers or applicants. If you are keen, do it at Uni.

Yes. People will see through Boris Johnson.

Any government requires a workforce and sees the "vocational" subjects, english language maths and science as the targets to maximise their goal. This also minimises the free thinkers in society so essentially making a more compliant population. This is the short-term thinking.

Latin should be taught in state schools. It is beautiful, enriching and not only Roman: think Medieval texts, theology, science, history, law. And Ancient Greek! Do you people not know Gen Z’s love for Percy Jackson? My state school-educated child is reading Classics at Oxford.

Learning Latin helped me enormously with languages which weren't taught at my school.

'Latin as an honour. Greek as a treat.' WS Churchill.

Better to study Latin than LGBTQ+, Woke, Diversity, or how to be offended at what anyone else says, studies