PRIMARY school pupils have been saying ‘as-salam alaykom’ to a new language project.

Brookhouse Primary, in Blackburn, is one of only ten schools across the country piloting the Arabic language and culture programme, which is run by the British Council.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Children as young as five have been taking the Arabic lessons and deputy head teacher Haroon Asghar said he hoped that the classes would spark a love of language learning from a young age.

He said: “People automatically assume that our reason for choosing Arabic is because we have a population of Muslim pupils. But research has shown that the second most in demand language for the future of the British economy is Arabic.

“We want to equip our pupils with a language that can be used to develop their career prospects and to aid the British economy.

“We also want to spark that language interest within them. We are only required to teach languages at Key Stage 2, but giving them that early start will hopefully give them the enthusiasm and skill they will need to carry language learning forward.”