A PORTRAYAL of a child's first day at school has led to honours for a Darlington drama student.

Michael Daynes, 12, passed the London-based Guildhall School of Music and Drama's character study grade 4 examination with merit.

His mime, called First Day of School, saw him portray a five-year-old's first venture into the classroom.

The scenario involved an argument breaking out over a pot of paint and the tribulations of a request for the toilet. For the acting part of the examination, Michael took on the character of Toad from Kenneth Grahame's classic children's story The Wind in the Willows, after which he had to discuss the role with the examiner.

Michael is now training for the Teesdale Music Speech and Drama Tournament, to be held in October.

He is the reigning junior speech champion of the tournament and recently appeared in Carmel RC Technology College's summer production of Bugsy Malone.