New Highers and Advanced Highers in Mandarin and Cantonese got off to a great start this year, with all 39 pupils passing. A grades were achieved by 27 of the 28 Mandarin Simplified Higher candidates (for non- native speakers); all five candidates sitting Mandarin Traditional achieved As.

Judith McClure, convener of the Scotland-China Education Network, said: “Just four year ago we had nothing and now we have 244 entries in Mandarin and Cantonese across all levels (from Access to Advanced Higher).”

But she warned that the tough financial climate would pose a challenge for the new subject and urged schools to work in partnership to introduce Chinese.