A TWELVE-YEAR-old girl has broken 600 years of tradition at a North-East school by becoming its first head girl.

Kimberly Forrest, 12, from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, joined The Chorister School, in Durham City, in 1997 and has impressed all her teachers with her hard work and intelligence.

She has just been appointed head of school - the first girl to hold the post since the school was founded in 1416.

Headmaster Stephen Drew said: "We choose the head of school at a staff meeting at the end of the summer term. The staff agreed unanimously that Kimberly should be asked."

Kimberly's duties include setting a good example to the other children, coordinating monitors' duties and helping the teachers in making each day run smoothly.

Mr Drew said: "The task that probably looms largest for her is on speech day next July.

"Kimberly will propose a public vote of thanks to famous children's author Anne Fine, in Durham Cathedral.

"I'm sure that she will do it very well but she's already a little bit nervous," Mr Drew added