Children will be made to learn Chinese from the age of three at a private school.

Brighton College has taken the unprecedented step of making Chinese Mandarin compulsory for all pupils from the time they join the nursery.

When they reach 18 it is hoped they will have an enviable command of the language of what could become the world's biggest superpower.

This, says headmaster Richard Cairns, will give them a priceless boost in the global employment market.

The £20,400-a-year school made national headlines in January last year when it announced it was to make Mandarin compulsory for pupils in the senior school.

Now the school has taken up an offer under a programme run by HSBC and the British Council to bring Mandarin teachers from China to the UK.

A new teacher has started at the school and the first trial lessons for three-year-olds were held last week. Compulsory classes will become part of the curriculum in September.

Mr Cairns, who has himself been learning Mandarin, said: "We have taken this decision because we want to ensure that every child leaves Brighton College prepared for the realities of the 21st Century.

"China is certain to be the second- largest economic power in the world by the time these three-year-olds leave the college in 2022.

"I believe it is essential as many children as possible are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities this presents.

"A knowledge of the language, culture and politics of China will also encourage children to be less Anglo-centric and more willing to engage with very different societies from our own."

Children in nursery and reception will have three short sessions of Mandarin a week.

In time, all 200 pre-prep children, 300 children in the prep school and 700 college pupils will learn Mandarin.

Mr Cairns said: "It makes sense to begin this process with our very youngest pupils.

"I witnessed a one-off lesson yesterday with a class of nursery pupils and was struck by how receptive they were. The concept of a word changing its meaning according to the tone used seemed not to faze them at all."

Eventually, the school plans to arrange work experience placements for Year 11 pupils, aged 15 and 16, to work in businesses and study in China.

Mr Cairns added: "When these children leave university in 2025 they're going to most likely go into the City or business, where they are going to have to trade with China. For me, it is a nobrainer.

"Even if they leave Brighton College knowing only 1,000 words, they will know 1,000 more than most British youngsters and that will open doors."

The school offers lessons in Mandarin, French, Spanish, German, Latin and Greek. There are about 12 Chinese pupils but they are mostly Cantonese speakers.

Sue Wicks, head of the preprep where French is taught to three and four-year-olds, said: "Young children have a thirst for knowledge and an openness of mind and ear that makes them natural linguists."