A Portuguese student who came to England for her final school year - and missed the first three weeks of term - celebrated straight As in her GCSEs.

Maria Inesduarte, 16, who now lives in Portwood, left her home in Mafra with her mum, dad and sister last year.

She then began at Stockport Academy in late September so was already behind in lessons, which were being taught in her second language.

But on GCSE results day Maria was awarded an A* in Portuguese, an eight in maths as well as a string of As in subjects including biology and chemistry.

She said: “In Portugal we were taught English since year one and the TV shows help but in terms of language it was a whole new world.

“I did a lot of extra work but it was easy to pick up (the language) in lessons but more difficult picking it up in students’ conversations.

“I am really happy and satisfied with myself, I wasn’t too nervous as I had a belief in myself. But I didn’t expect to do so well, I am most pleased with biology.”

Maria came to England with her sister, 10, so her mum and dad could work as a nurse and engineer respectively.

She now hopes to study A-levels in chemistry, maths and further maths.

Maria said: “The easiest GCSE was Portuguese, I’d finished the paper in 15 minutes and was then looking around.

“I do miss Portugal, I miss the weather, my friends and my family. We lived in an area where we were all together, here it is a bit more detached.”

Prinicpal Frank McCarron said: “Maria had not done any of the syllabus when she arrived and has done really well.”