Two-thirds of secondary schools do not offer international pupil exchanges, new research has shown.

The news came as the British Council warned that a decline in the international experiences offered by British schools was leaving pupils without the skills they needed in a post-Brexit economy.

The organisation said that only a third of secondary schools were offering international pupil exchanges - partly because of funding pressures.

And it has found that almost half of primary schools offer no international education activities other than language learning.

In International Education Week, the British Council is calling for all young people to be given the chance to build their international experience.

It said that language skills and cultural awareness would be vital for the post-Brexit economy.

Vicky Gough, schools adviser at the British Council, said: “The decline in international experience in our schools is regrettable, as international awareness and skills are more vital than ever as the UK leaves the European Union.

“Pupils do not need to go on expensive trips abroad to have international awareness.

“International partnerships and projects in schools allow pupils of all backgrounds to experience other cultures and develop their intercultural skills.

“This is vital for a generation growing up in an increasingly connected world.”

The British Council highlighted government figures showing that lack of foreign language skills was costing the UK economy around £48 billion a year, or 3.5 per cent of GDP.

It said cultural awareness was also crucial to trading, to effectively target products and lead negotiations. 

The British Council carried out research in 692 primary schools and 785 secondary schools in England.

Of the secondary schools offering international exposure, trips abroad were the most popular form of international experience, with the vast majority (81 per cent) offering excursions overseas.

However the British Council said pupil exchanges offering “deeper experience in other cultures” had declined.

Only a third of secondaries offered exchanges.

The British Council said this was partly due to funding pressures and greater child protection requirements.

However, it added that schools could build connections with other languages and cultures by setting up virtual school partnerships with counterparts overseas.

It highlighted Reay Primary school in Lambeth, South London, which has worked with educators in Spain, Zimbabwe and Portugal to allow pupils to communicate with people from other cultures. 

Reay Primary was recently given the British Council International School Award.

Earlier this year, the British Council warned that the Brexit vote was having a negative impact on parents’ attitudes and pupils’ motivation to learn modern languages, according to a survey of teachers.

More than a third of state secondary schools have reported that the decision to leave the EU has made parents and pupils question the importance of learning a language.