The Telegraph – Virginia Matthews
“…for many independent schools, French, Spanish and, increasingly, Russian and Mandarin are viewed as a key plank of the curriculum and a passport to top careers…According to deputy head Alan Bird, the school’s decision to replace compulsory French with Mandarin reflects the changing demands of the global economy. “Our pupils will be entering the world of work in the 2020s and 2030s, when China will be a massive influence…we believe that demand for Mandarin can only continue to grow,” he says.”(more)