Clifton College in Bristol has introduced modern Hebrew as a language option in the curriculum.

Although the school closed its Jewish boarding house some years ago, the Polack Centre continues to offer services, kosher food and other activities for Jewish pupils at the private school.

Year-7 students have to choose two modern languages to study and now Hebrew has joined French, Spanish, Mandarin and German.

Rabbi Anna Gerrard, Clifton’s Jewish chaplain, said, “I have a small but committed year-7 class who are doing very well.

“The aim is to expand this provision year by year until it is possible for pupils — Jewish or non-Jewish — to take Hebrew as a curricular subject right up to GCSE.

“I believe we are the only non-Jewish school in the country to offer this. And probably one of very few schools at all to offer this outside of London.”