A TEENAGER who couldn’t speak a word of English when he moved to the North-East is celebrating after passing his GCSEs to earn a place at college.

When Jakub Pulawski joined Haughton Academy, in Darlington, in year 8 from his home in Poland he couldn’t speak any English.

But the 16-year-old was thrilled this week after he secured seven GCSEs and is now planning to go to Darlington College where he will study with the Martin Gray Football Academy.

“I didn’t want to come to England because of leaving my friends,” he said. “But I was persuaded by the chance to play football and am very pleased to be here as I now play centre back for Darlington.

“I would love to do as well as possible in football or might become a PE teacher one day. I couldn’t speak any English but had help from my Darlington friends and Haughton teachers.

"I was shocked to get an A* in PE and a B in maths and was pleased to get an A* in Polish and a C in English.”

Deputy headteacher Steven Clough said: “Credit must go to Jakub as he really managed to turn around his studies in year 11 and has been rewarded with some great grades.”