Slumdog millionaire star Dev Patel moved his school drama teacher to tears

The details were revealed by Harrow Council as it paid tribute to its most famous drama graduate teenager whose depiction of impoverished Mumbai slumchild Jamal Malik in the Golden Globe-winning move has already won rave reviews.

Dev started as a student at Whitmore High School at the age of 12, obtaining an A* in drama. In an excerpt from a school drama report written about the budding star when he was just 15, drama teacher Niamh Wright said: "Dev is a talented student who has made excellent progress. He is a skilled performer demonstrating superb control of physical and vocal characterisation techniques".

Recalling her famous pupil, Mrs Wright, who taught GCSE drama, said: "Dev was a gifted student who quickly impressed me with his innate ability to communicate a wide variety of characters imaginatively and creatively.

He was awarded full marks for his GCSE performance to a live audience and the visiting examiner was moved to tears by his honest portrayal of a child in the Beslan school hostage crisis in Russia. We are extremely proud of Dev who was a dream to teach."

Nearly 200 children and 150 adults were killed when Russian forces stormed a school in Beslan in September 2004 after it was seized by Chechen gunmen.

Dev went on to pass four A/S levels in PE, Biology, History and Drama despite a burgeoning on-screen career sparked by his role in the Channel Four teen drama Skins.

Fellow students today paid tribute to their famous teenage contemporary. Current A-Level drama student Bobby Faghihi said: "I first saw Dev Patel perform in his GCSE devised piece, he was brilliant and extremely enthusiastic. His energy really inspired me and helped me develop my own piece. The heights he's reached now are a testament to his effort and ability".

Councillor Anjana Patel, Harrow Council's portfolio holder for schools and children's development, said: "I would like to personally congratulate Dev on his tremendous achievements. We are all extremely proud of Dev in Harrow and what he has done. This speaks volumes about the quality of drama teaching in Harrow schools. I hope Dev comes back and is able to inspire others on to similar stage success by his own example."

Susan Hammond, Head teacher of Whitmore School, said: "Harrow schools are filled with talented and dedicated young people and staff. Our Drama Department is very strong and in this year's GCSE Drama exam another Whitmore student, Christina Langley, came in the top 10 in the country. Dev deserves his success: he is hardworking and talented - the ideal combination."