KATIE Telleck has just beaten teenagers all over the country to become the GCSE Student of the Year.

She got 11 A stars including the highest mark in music nationally.

The 17 year-old from Turton Media Arts College in Bolton has now dropped music to concentrate on a medical career but still plays the flute in the Bolton Youth Concert Band and Bolton Youth Orchestra.

She is also modest, articulate and lovely and her parents Sandra and Mark must be inordinately proud of her.

I hope they also take time out to feel very proud of themselves as well. Katie obviously comes from a loving, supportive home where there is encouragement to have a go at everything, and not just concentrate on the academic.

Her parents also provide the kind of positive role models that really help a naturally bright youngster like Katie to succeed.