BLACKHEATH not Brighton is leading the way in teaching pupils the Chinese language, according to a headteacher.

Last week bosses at Brighton College in East Sussex claimed it was set to become the first place in the country to make Mandarin Chinese a compulsory subject.

However, Blackheath High School headteacher Lisa Laws has hit back, saying her school is already well advanced at teaching the language.

The school in Vanbrugh Hill, Blackheath, has been teaching Mandarin to younger pupils since September.

Mrs Laws says the school hopes to make the subject compulsory at GCSE level in the near future.

She said: "We were slightly taken aback when we heard what Brighton College had to say.

"Mandarin is an important part of developing a more international dimension to our curriculum.

"It means our pupils will be fully equipped for the challenges of the global economy."