SCHOOLGIRL Saime Higson is a star performer in every sense of the word.

The 15-year-old, who has been blind since birth, gained a GCSE B grade in performing arts -- a year early.

She achieved the feat by by attending a night course at Wigan and Leigh College in her spare time.

Saime opted to study for the arts course in addition to her mainstream schoolwork and attended classes as a "hobby" at the college's Wigan campus.

As a result of her hard work -- and the patience and support of teacher Andy Newman -- she was ready to take the exams in June, a year earlier than she would have done at school.

Saime of High Crest Grove, Tyldesley, is described by her proud parents, Julie and John, as a perfectionist who sets herself high standards.

Mrs Higson said: "We are thrilled with her result. We all would have been happy with a C but a B is an extra achievement. Saime worked so hard for it and we're so proud of her." Ironically, the subject for Saime's exam was something she knows a lot about -- ambition.

She said: "I had to write a story around ambition and then I had to perform it twice to be assessed. It was very scary."

Celebrations consisted of a family meal with younger brother James, followed by a house party where Saime was presented with her result slip mounted and framed and which now takes pride of place in her front room.

Saime returned to the RNIB New College in Worcester this week, where she boards Monday to Friday, to begin two years of studying for GCSEs in English, maths, science, French, geography, IT and expressive arts.