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Teacher Lin Wong introduces pupils to Mandarin.
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Saying it in Mandarin

ASIAN and white pupils at a private girls school in Blackburn are being given compulsory lessons in China's official language - Mandarin.

Westholme School, where one-in-three pupils are Asian, has become the first in Lancashire to teach Mandarin alongside more traditional French, Spanish, German and Latin to all 11 to 14-year olds.

Principal, Croston said: "With the Chinese economy expected to become the world leader by 2050, the school recognises the need to introduce to the curriculum a language which is becoming increasing global.

"Here at Westholme we like to seize every opportunity to prepare our girls for the future, and we recognise that with increasing globalisation, it is essential that our pupils will be prepared to face the challenges which lie ahead. We are offering them the chance to learn a language that is spoken by over a billion people."

School spokeswoman Sarah Winder said they had received no complaints from parents or pupils.

"They all think it is a good idea," she said.

The school's department is to be lead by Lin Wong, who originates from Singapore where she was previously a language teacher and has joined the school from Durham University where she completed a masters degree.

She added: "I am looking forward to the challenge, of educating English pupils."
Lessons will comprise of an hour each week accompanied by internal examinations.