WSE currently teaches 35,000 students across 39 physical school centres across eastern China but also offers online lessons, an interactive community of students and teachers and runs online-only management training courses. Between 2006 and 2008 WSE’s revenues grew by 40 percent and this year it expects to make $70 million (£46.8 million) in sales.

Pearson first entered the Chinese English language market last year when it bought the school and college student focussed Learning Education Centre and Dellenglish businesses, which hav esince been rebranded into Pearson’s Longman Schools business. Based on its own figures, Pearson is now the second largest private language trainer in China by revenues and the deal takes its annual education sales revenue in China past $100 million (£70 million).