FAST-TRACK fashion students who gave up evenings and holidays to study for a GCSE a year early have been rewarded with top grades.

The fashion-conscious girls were offered the chance to study for a GCSE in textile technology, even though it was not available on their syllabus.

The four 15-year-olds, from year ten at The King's Academy, Middlesbrough, worked for an hour-and-a-half after school each week and came in during the holidays.

This week, they celebrated along with their older fellow GCSE students on hearing they'd passed with flying colours. Kathleen Johnson got an A grade, Rachel Field and Rebecca Robinson got Bs and Alex Farnaby passed with a C. All the girls are from Coulby Newham.

Rachel said: "We did textiles in art, but it wasn't fashion-related so I decided to do the extra classes. Now we've done one GCSE we know what to expect next year with the exams and on results day itself."

Alex added: "I'm hoping to do fashion at college. This has given us a taste of what it is going to be like."

After getting their results, the girls presented a gift to academy assistant vice-principal Carey Brownless, who offered and taught the course.

Mrs Brownless, a specialist in textile technology, said: "The course covers concept to completion, working from a design brief through to a finished outfit that can be batch produced.

"It makes the students look at fashion as an industry, as well as incorporating design and technique.

"The girls have worked hard and been very dedicated and I'm very proud that they've done so well."