HOT on the heels of London Fashion Week, this stunning collection of outfits were showcased by young designers at a school.

Almost 100 girls from Central Newcastle High School in Jesmond hit the catwalk for its annual Art and Design Fashion Show.

Pupils as young as 13 were given the opportunity to display their creations, themed around famous artists, the Chanel Show 2009 and wallpaper designs.

Among the designs were also those created by the students studying A-level textiles. The eight teenagers were tasked with creating a collection of three outfits.

Among the young designers are several girls who hope to follow a career in art or design.

One of the students presenting her collection was Claudia Smith, from Low Fell, Gateshead, who showcased her three dresses designed for the theme “Super Villains”.

The 18-year-old said: “I chose this theme because it is quite theatrical and ties in with my future career plans.”

Claudia has an ambition to work in the art department of a film company and is already partway to realising this. When I was 16, I began to tweet production designers with a view to learning more about work on film sets,” she said. The approach proved successful, as Claudia landed a holiday job with a freelance designer and subsequently worked at Three Mills Studios in London as the art department assistant on a short film.

She has since progressed to working on bigger projects at the Leavesden Studios.

Claudia added: “I have recently worked on one of Tom Cruise’s new films but I’m sworn to secrecy so can’t tell you anything more!”

Alison Goldie, head of art at Central High, said: “The girls have shown a real passion for their work and the confidence to be brave in their design ideas – something our art teachers encourage them to be right from their very first lesson.

“You only have to look at the high standard of the art and design work produced by the girls to see that this approach pays off.”

Ms Goldie said the A-level collections take months to go from the drawing board to the catwalk.

She added: “The fashion show gives girls a real taste of what it is like to work to strict deadlines. Their collections just have to be ready for the show. The show also encourages the girls to think more widely about how best to showcase their work to an audience, with the choreography lighting and music all contributing towards the designer’s success.

“The Central High textiles studio has been a hive of activity and I am so impressed by how the girls have worked under pressure.”