LANGUAGE students at an Otley school have proved themselves ahead of the game.

Last week it was reported widely that Brighton College was the first in the country to teach Mandarin Chinese.

It said it would be giving all pupils a chance to learn Chinese because of the country's increasing influence in the world.

But at Prince Henry's Grammar School, pupils have been learning Chinese for the last six years.

The school, a specialist language college, also teaches Mandarin Chinese to adult learners, as well as Russian, Portuguese, Greek and Latin.

Chris Lillington, assistant head teacher and director of the language college, said the school was proud of its long standing association with China.

All Year Eight, 12 and 13 year old, pupils are given 'taster' lessons in Mandarin Chinese for ten weeks, after which they can continue learning the language after school.

"As a spoken language it is quite straight forward, but as a written language it is quite difficult. We get a good response to it and have about 20 students doing it after school," said Mr Lillington.

In addition, the school has a long association with the Xuejun High School in Hangzhou where every year it sends a party of pupils on exchange and also receives a party of Chinese students back.

Twelve pupils and teachers spent ten days in Hangzhou at the end of last year and in June this year a party of Chinese students will return to Otley.

And on Saturday, February 4, there will be a celebration at the school marking Chinese New Year.

Mr Lillington said there was a huge incentive for schools to teach Chinese, but that the problem was finding teachers.

Acting head teacher John Dean added that the school was very proud of its adult learning college after school which attracted people from as far away as Doncaster.

As well as Mandarin Chinese, adult learners can study beginners through to advanced languages including European as well as Latin, Japanese, Turkish, Greek and sign language.

Mr Dean said: "I understand that Lord Adonis, the government minister for education, has concerns about the state of language teaching in schools across the nation. I say he should visit Prince Henry's where it is flourishing."