A CAREER in languages beckons for a talented Deane School pupil who achieved outstanding GCSE results.

Leonid Tarasov gained five A*s, three As, three Bs and one C, and did particularly well in English Literature.

The 16-year-old is among the final students to take their exams at the Deane School, off Junction Road, before it closes and re-opens as the new revamped Ladybridge High School, in a bid to improve standards.

Leonid said: "I was really pleased when I found out my results. I wasn't expecting it."

Leonid hopes now to study English language, Spanish, history and law A-levels at Canon Slade sixth form. Eventually, he hopes to gain a place at either Oxford or Cambridge University to study languages.

He has not yet decided upon a career although he is confident it will be in something connected with languages.

The Deane School is being closed and reopened after Government inspectors found it was failing to provide an acceptable standard of education.

But Leonid defended the school, saying he had enjoyed going there and the teachers had been extremely supportive.

He said: "The teachers have been very supportive. I think the school is really good and the criticism has been unjustified."

Sarah Ilyas is another successful Deane School student. Sixteen-year-old Sarah, of Armadale Road, Ladybridge, gained four A *s, four As, three Bs and a C.

She is hoping to study A-levels in science at either Bolton Sixth Form College or the Bolton School, and eventually go on to study medicine at either Oxford or Cambridge.

She said: "I would like to thank my mum for all her support and for encouraging me and pushing forward that extra little bit. I wouldn't have been able to do this without her."