A teenager is following in the footsteps of artists like Adele and Leona Lewis by earning a place at the prestigious Brit school.

Saffron Robins, 16 from Balgores Lane, Gidea Park has started her first week studying a BTEC in theatre at the performing arts school in Croydon.

Saffron said: “I am so excited.

“The standard is really high and everyone at the school is good at what they are doing and that makes me strive to do my best.”

Saffron, who went to Coopers’ Company and Coborn School in St Mary’s Lane, Upminster applied for a place at the school three months ago.

She was invited to an interview and assessment day at the school a month ago and weeks ago she was told that she had won a place to study there.

She said: “The school called my mum a few weeks ago and I was upstairs sleeping, but when I came downstairs my mum and sister were just smiling.

“I was just ecstatic, I felt really positive after the interview, but I was just really happy to know that I was going to study there.”

Saffron’s interest in drama started when she was a student at St Edward’s Primary School in Havering Drive, Romford, but she didn’t start thinking about it seriously until she started Coopers’.

She was also a member of the Queen’s Theatre’s young drama group where she performed a number of productions including Alice In Wonderland on the theatre’s stage.

The Brit school is the country’s only free performing arts and technology school for ages 14 to 19 year olds.

It provides education and vocational training for the performing arts, media, art and design and technology.

Some of their past students have included Jessie J and most recently Rizzle Kicks.

Saffron is hoping that it will help kick start a acting career or a career as a film director.

She said: “I love acting and I think I want to go on to study it at university.

“I think that studying at the Brit school will create a lot of oppertunities for me.”