A PUPIL at one of the county's leading all-girls schools has been commended as one of the top 20 in the country for physics.

Hala Ali, of Harrogate Ladies' College, won the award for a portfolio she submitted as part of her physics AS-level coursework.

The Institute of Physics congratulated her on the high quality of her work and gave credit to the school's physics department.

Head of physics Sian Mitchell said: "We are delighted Hala has achieved this level of recognition. Her portfolio reflects her hard work and a very mature understanding of the subject."