A BURY schoolgirl is “building” herself a nationwide reputation.

Alicia Brown’s work has been rated so highly by the UK’s largest academic and vocational qualifications awards body that it is being used to show other schools how it should be done.

Edexcel praised as “exemplary” the work completed by the Year 11 student at Broad Oak Sport’s College’s recently opened construction suite.

John Cobley, Excel’s lead verifier for Construction and Building Services Engineering, hailed Alicia’s work for her Exploring Painting & Decorating BTEC course. He said it was of “exemplary quality” and it would be used “for Edexcel training and to illustrate to other centres how the programme should be delivered”.

Alicia, 15, said: “I’m proud and pleased. It also makes me feel more confident in the quality of my work.”

Mirek Dorotycz, lead teacher of construction at Broad Oak in Hazel Avenue, said: “This is our first year running this course, so to get picked out by Edexcel for producing such exemplary work is fantastic for Broad Oak. It’s a great reward for all the students too, not just Alicia, because they have all worked extremely hard.”

The school’s £100,000 construction suite opened last year and as well as the purpose-built painting and decorating facilities, also features a carpentry and joinery centre equipped with new workbenches.

l—An open night for prospective students and their parents will be held at the school on Tuesday September 22, 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Call (0161) 797 6543.