Primary school pupils should be given lessons in Latin, a think-tank said yesterday.

The ancient language should be granted the same status as modern languages such as French, German and Spanish, according to a pamphlet produced by Politeia.

From September next year all primary schools will be required to teach pupils a modern foreign language from the age of seven.

The pamphlet, by Oxford classicists professor Christopher Pelling and Llewelyn Morgan, argues that Latin will help youngsters with written and spoken English, maths, and to learn other languages.

It says: "We want our children to be confident in their ability to speak to British and non-British people, and to feel comfortable in a diverse and evolving world, and at the heart of that aspiration is linguistic sophistication.

"We want them to be alive to the significance of our country's past, and motivated to study the literature which preserves and celebrates that past. We also want our kids to be taught by a highly qualified and passionate cadre of educators. We want them to fly high. To all of that Latin is the key."

The document, entitled Latin For Language Learners: Opening Opportunity For Primary Pupils, calls for Education Secretary Michael Gove to allow Latin the same support as modern languages in primary schools.

It proposes: "If the new government decides to accept the status quo, i.e. most primary schools are already teaching a foreign language, the Secretary of State should ensure that Latin is given the same status as other foreign language options.

"This would mean including Latin as a primary foreign language option in statutory measures or non-statutory guidance."