Era of the dragon: Demand to learn Mandarin is soaring

GCSE numbers double as more and more pupils want lessons

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Demand for lessons in Mandarin is soaring, according to new research from the British Council that reveals a major gap between interest and access.

The report shows that while 37 per cent of UK pupils might be interested in taking Mandarin if it were available, only five per cent currently can-a sevenfold gap between demand and provision.

Building UK China Capability Through Education draws on a survey of more than 1,000 pupils aged 13-18 and examines 'China literacy'-the linguistic skills, cultural knowledge and firsthand experience needed to engage with modern China.

It recommends better integration of these skills and experiences across UK education from secondary school to university and beyond.