Top State Schools do offer Latin

I've checked the top 21 of The Times Top 450 State Schools, and find that 16 of them offer Latin. Colyton Grammar School, the top school, sends a mixed message, so I have left it out. Townley Grammar teaches Latin and Greek in a club, and Saffron Walden offers Latin as an 'extension' class.

Update: 29 of the top 44 schools offer Latin.

You might use this as ammunition when arguing with heads who want their schools to be among the best!

School Points per candidate

1. Colyton Grammar School, Colyton, Mixed, Sel 442.6 probably not
2. Colchester Royal Grammar School, Colchester, Mixed, Sel 427.2 yes
3. Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, Marlow, Mixed, Sel 416.5 no
4. Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls, Tonbridge, Mixed, Sel 415.8 yes
5. St Olave's Grammar School, Orpington, Mixed, Sel 410.1 yes
6. Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, Barnet, Boys, Sel 408.5 no
7. Reading School, Reading, Boys, Sel 408.2 yes
8. Tiffin School, Kingston Upon Thames, Boys, Sel 407.2 yes
9. Colchester County High School for Girls, Colchester, Girls, Sel 400.3 yes
10. Townley Grammar School for Girls, Bexleyheath, Girls, Sel 391.1 club
11. Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Chelmsford, Girls, Sel 390.1 yes
12. Pate's Grammar School, Cheltenham, Mixed, Sel 389.1 no
13. Newstead Wood School for Girls, Orpington, Girls, Sel 386.5 yes
14. The Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston Upon Thames, Girls, Sel 385.3 yes
15. Saffron Walden County High School, Saffron Walden, Mixed, Comp 384.7 extension
16. Henrietta Barnett School, London, Girls, Sel 384.0 yes
17. King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, Mixed, Sel 383.6 yes
18. The Judd School, Tonbridge, Mixed, Sel 383.1 yes
19. Dartford Grammar School, Dartford, Mixed, Sel 381.6 yes
20. 20. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, Birmingham, Boys, Sel 377.6 no
21. The Latymer School, London, Mixed, Sel 377.4 yes
22. Wilson's School, Wallington, Boys, Sel 376.6 yes
23. Ashlawn School, Rugby, Boys, Sel 376.2 no
24. King Edward VI School, Stratford-Upon-Tyne, Boys, Sel 376.2 (?Avon) yes
25. Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Altrincham, Girls, Sel 373.9 no
26. Sutton Grammar School for Boys, Sutton, Boys, Sel 373.6 no
27. King Edward VI Handsworth School, Birmingham, Girls, Sel 373.4 no
28. St Bernard's Convent School, Slough , Mixed, Sel 373.1 ?
29. Rugby High School, Rugby, Girls, Sel 372.4 ?no
30. Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, Tunbridge Wells, Girls, Sel 372.0 ?
31. Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge, Mixed, Sel 371.5 yes
32. Bishop of Llandaff CW High School, Cardiff, Mixed, Comp 371.4 unobtain
33. Kendrick Girls' Grammar School, Reading, Girls, Sel 369.3 yes
34. King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham, Mixed, Sel 365.8 yes
35. Ilford County High School, Ilford, Boys, Sel 365.6 no
36. Wallington High School for Girls, Wallington, Girls, Sel 364.9 yes
37. Nonsuch High School for Girls, Sutton, Girls, Sel 362.5 yes
38. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham, Girls, Sel 362.5 yes
39. Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Lancaster, Boys, Sel 361.1 yes
40. Wycombe High School, High Wycombe, Girls, Sel 360.8 yes
41. The Rochester Grammar School for Girls, Rochester, Girls, Sel 360.7 yes
42. Dr Challoner's High School, Amersham, Girls, Sel 359.9 yes
43. The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, High Wycombe, Boys, Sel 357.9 yes
44. Skipton Girls' High School, Skipton, Girls, Sel 357.8 no

Traditional Latin Mass is given a new lease of life

This is from the Daily Telegraph. Apparently it's not only in the USA that people, including young people, look forward to the Latin Mass.

By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
(Filed: 15/08/2005)

The traditional Latin Mass, which was virtually outlawed by the Vatican in the 1960s, will receive a new lease of life this week when Benedict XVI makes the first foreign trip of his pontificate to Cologne.

A group of youthful Roman Catholic devotees of the Tridentine Rite, called Juventutem, will be among the million young people at the annual World Youth Day.

It is the first time such a group has received an official invitation to the festivities from a Pope and three cardinals have agreed to participate in its activities.

The growing recognition by the Vatican of the enduring attraction of the old rite, which dates back to the 1570 Council of Trent, has heartened campaigners who have been fighting for its revival.

Under the rite, the priest celebrates High Mass with his back to the congregation, intoning the Latin liturgy amid swirls of incense and arcane ritual.

Since the Second Vatican Council, the rite was displaced by Mass in the vernacular and the traditional music of the composer Palestrina was edged out by folk songs and guitars. The rump of adherents to the Tridentine Mass were branded reactionaries and its practice was virtually eliminated in many countries.

Now it is growing in popularity among young people and senior Church authorities, including the Pope, have indicated sympathy.

The leader of the English contingent of Juventutem, Gregory Flash, said: “I find the old rite beautiful and inspiring and it puts me in closer contact with God.''

Speaking from Bavaria, he said that the image of adherents of the Tridentine rite as “old fogeys” was outdated: “I was at a traditional service today and no one was in tweeds. The congregation was mostly under 30 and wearing jeans and T-shirts. The bishops are beginning to realise that we are not going to go away. If they don't want us, they are going to find a future of empty pews and fewer committed Catholic families.”

A highlight of the event for the traditionalists will be an address by Cardinal Francis Arinze, the head of the Vatican department for worship.