A school has been awarded almost £6,000 to teach ancient Greek to its pupils.

Burntwood School for Girls in Burntwood Lane, Tooting, was granted the money by charity Classics for All so that 25 pupils can do a GCSE in the subject.

The charity has awarded £90, 000 so far to state run schools, in a bid to make classics a common subject on the national curriculum.

Girls aged 13 to 14 at the school began the classes last week and will take a GCSE exam after three years.

The students are taught using video conferencing and other methods.

A total of 250 pupils already take Latin classes, with 32 students sitting a Latin GCSE this summer.

Sarah Brack, head of classics at Burntwood said: "It is going fantastic, it is very exciting and the students love it.

"I am hoping I can encourage more and more students to do it, and for it to become as popular as the Latin."

Teachers hope the project will be extended so girls can sit an A level in the subject.

Professor Tom Harrison, chair of Classics for All grant's advisory committee said: "Teachers tell us that a training in classics not only enhances pupils' performance in subjects such as English, History and Modern Languages, but also improves their self-esteem.

"The more academically successful they are, the more ambitious they become."