A young student from Watford has pirouetted her way into the record books by gaining a teaching qualification at the age of 11.

Despite having only been a dancer for six years, Rebecca Barry, who goes to The Reach Free School, last week gained her Sports Leaders UK Level 1 Award in Dance Leadership (QCF) Ofqual.

It means she can now teach under direct supervision, and she plans to help teacher Vicky Shepherd at Breakout Dance Company teach young girls dance routines.

The dancer said: “I am so excited to have my qualification and I hope to be a professional dancer or dance teacher.

“Sometimes I have to miss friends' birthday parties and things due to training commitments but I love dancing and my friends understand and are supportive.”

To get the qualification, Rebecca undertook a week long course last summer and had to complete written and practical work in the form of devising and choreographing a short dance routine and then teach it to a class.

Rebecca trains twice a week with Breakout Dance Company, taking part in street dance, commercial, contemporary and lyrical dance.

She also trains with RISE Studios for her graded dance and last year received a grade three distinction in her modern class.

She is currently working towards her grade three tap, grade four modern and grade four ballet.

The talented dancer has also won the half scholarship with the London Elite Dance Company.

Her mother Samantha, 42, said: “We are all incredibly proud of Rebecca, her work ethic is incredible for one so young.

“She applies herself both in her schooling and outside interests.

“She is a high achiever working towards grades six and seven in her core subjects and we as a family try to ensure that she has a good healthy balance of learning both inside and outside of school and alongside her school fully support her to pursue her dreams.”

Rebecca's past accomplishments include taking part in a Charm Girl and a Kitten in the English Youth Ballet Production of Sleeping Beauty in the Gordan Craig Theatre and dancing in THE1975 Heart Out video in 2014.

Along with a ballerina in a short film called The Time of My Life.

Rebecca has also appeared in television adverts and last September won the Talentfest UK Junior Acting Solo at the Grand Finals in the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.