LANGUAGE proved to be no barrier to Maltese student Oriana Bezzina, who gained 11 A* GCSEs.

The 16-year-old pupil at Barnard Castle School,speaks five languages - her native tongue, English, Spanish, French and Latin.

"I learnt to speak English at the same time as Maltese, so it's no problem," said Oriana, who lives in Malta during the holidays and Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, when at school.

"I do sometimes get a bit mixed up with French and Spanish."

Oriana, whose father is an orthopaedic surgeon in the region, said she was delighted with her results.

Fellow pupils at Barnard Castle School celebrated a record number of top grades at GCSE. Overall, 92.8 per cent of grades in all subjects were at A* to C grade and nearly half of all grades were A* or As.

Headmaster David Ewart said: "These are quality grades in quality subjects from quality children.

"This brings great credit to staff and pupils, who turn their back on soft options and set their sights high."

Other pupils to achieve straight A or A* grades in ten subjects were Guy Hartley, of Kirkby Stephen, Martha Henriques, of Brignall, Joseph Heslop, of Barningham, James Lowrey-English, of Staindrop, and Heather Stanwix, of Barnard Castle.