Hartlepool youngster Ryan Houseman scored highly in art and design against 3,138 other GCSE candidates nationwide.

And bosses at Big Studio Glass Design, where he is completing work experience, have been quick to pick up on his talents, even asking him to stay on beyond his placement for the rest of the summer holidays.

Director, Andy Burt said: "He is a great lad. He is well beyond his years as far as his work goes.

"He is a possible talent for the future and he has enjoyed himself.

"We certainly will be looking out for him to see what he is up to when he leaves university."

Ryan has just returned from an assignment with the company in London where he helped to fit a decorative mirror and shower screen at a luxury Thistle hotel.

Mr Burt said: "He has been here for just a fortnight and we have been able to leave him alone to do things himself.

"We can trust him to go down to London to represent our company."

Mr Burt said Ryan had also mastered computer design technology used by the company which designs, manufactures and installs decorative glass.

Company bosses said they were also impressed by Ryan's willingness to give up his summer holidays.

Ryan achieved five A*s, in history, two in art, RE and science and five

As in English literature and language, science, maths and French.

He lives with his mum Joanne Hayes, 39, a health care assistant, and stepdad Stephen Hayes, 49, a glass fitter, in King Oswy Drive, Hartlepool.

Joanne said: "I was over the moon because it's a real achievement."

Ryan, whose dad Michael Houseman, 42, a turbo technician, who lives on Hartlepool's Headland, plans to attend English Martyrs' sixth form to study maths, physics, fine art, product design and photography at A level.

Ryan, who has two sisters, Aimee Houseman, 13, and Millie Hayes, four, was first inspired by the glass studio, on the Hunter House Industrial Estate, Tofts Farm, Hartlepool, during a school trip in June.

GCSE results supplements in your Mail on Tuesday.