A leading independent college has become the first school in England to make Mandarin Chinese a compulsory subject for pupils.

Richard Cairns, headmaster at Brighton College, says the move recognises the importance of China as the world's fastest growing economy.

Mandarin will become part of the 1,200-pupil college's core curriculum from September.

Mr Cairns said the school had only a "handful" of native Chinese students, making the move "all the more radical".

The subject will now join French, Spanish and Latin as core languages.

Mr Cairns, who made the announcement in his first week as head, said: "One of my key tasks is to make sure the pupils are equipped for the realities of the 21st Century, and one of those realities is that China has the fastest growing economy in the world.

"This year China replaced Britain as the world's fourth largest economy. We need to face up to this challenge, see it for the trading opportunity that it is and ensure our children are well placed to thrive in this new global reality.

"A better understanding of the language and culture of China will be hugely to the advantage of the children."

Mr Cairns said he hoped the Chinese children already at the college would help and encourage their fellow pupils.

He said: "We do have a dozen or so native Chinese speakers and I very much hope they will be able to help our native Sussex boys and girls to get to grips with what I imagine to be a rather challenging experience."

Taiwanese Rain Wu, 18, a pupil at the school for four years, said she was sure the Chinese-speaking students would be more than happy to help.

She held a one-off, hour-long introductory class in Mandarin Chinese to Year Nine pupils yesterday afternoon and said she was surprised when she heard Mr Cairns's plans.

She said: "Brighton College will be the first in England, so I think it's a really brave move because it's not an easy language. It's not like French and German, which originates from the same place.

"Chinese students are enthusiastic. It was us learning English and now we might be able to teach and help instead."

Dillon Grumitt, 13, who studies all four foreign languages at the college, took part in Rain's class. He learnt about the origins of the different characters and how to say his name in Mandarin Chinese.

He said: "We learnt how the characters come from pictures and what they mean so it was quite logical and fun."

Mandarin Chinese is the standard form of Chinese although there are other dialects, including Cantonese.

In a bid to lead the way, Mr Cairns, plans to take part.

He said: "I think it is the best way for me to show pupils how important I regard this new addition to our curriculum."