A SCOTS pupil has been accepted to study Chinese at Oxford University after learning the language at school.
Andrew Aitken, who will go to Pembroke College, is the first student in 30 years to go to Oxford from his school.
A pupil at Grange Academy in Kilmarnock he became fascinated with Chinese language and culture after attending his school's Confucius classroom.
He said: "I am excited to be accepted to attend Pembroke College, but I am still in shock. My parents are so proud of my achievements. I am also the first person in my family to attend university, so it is a bit of a shock for them too.
"I have always been interested in languages but my interest is starting to move towards politics and I am really looking forward to studying politics as part of my course."
Grange Academy has had a Confucius hub within the school since 2009, providing young people with direct links to China, encouraging learning and cultural exchange.
Eòghann MacColl, the council's spokesman for lifelong learning said: "The Confucius hub at Grange has provided our young people with fantastic opportunities.
"Grange is one of only a handful of schools in Scotland where Chinese is taught as a language and the hub has enabled strong links to be made with China through school visits and cultural exchanges."
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