A GAMES console executive has returned to his old stomping ground to inspire pupils to success.

Zeno Colaço left St Joseph's more than 20 years ago, but he attributes his rise to the position of vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe to his time at the school.

Mr Colaço was invited to the newly-rebuilt St Joseph's Catholic College through the contact he maintained with his geography teacher Pas Mazzotta, who still teaches there.

Since leaving in 1985 this is only the second time he has been back to the school - the first time being the official opening of the new site in March. He said: "The striking thing is that it's really 21st Century to me, it's such a foundation for being successful and you can feel that in the set up.

"The old school had clear academic success, but not the best facilities, now it's got state-of-the-art buildings, a great approach to teaching and academic success too.

"Compared to the feeling I get when I walk around London, there's a really good sense of ambition, learning and discipline here - it's a really good vibe."

Mr Colaço spent time with the pupils from the school's English as an Additional Language (EAL) department, talking through his family's move from Goa to England and how he progressed from wanting to be a sports scientist to punching holes in CDs at EMI in Swindon, through to having been involved with the launch of the now-iconic PlayStation games console with Sony.

"It's a privilege being able to put something back into the school that clearly gave me the foundation to be able to do what I do today," he said.

"People do find role models in life, and if I can give a smidgen of something they can lock on to I'll be happy. I wouldn't consider myself to be a celebrity, I have applied the education I have to the business I work in."

EAL teacher Jackie McCauley arranged for Mr Colaço to come and talk to Year 10 and 11 her pupils.

She said: "Some of them find it difficult to see where they fit into the bigger picture, as can any pupil but even more so with EAL students. We wanted to target them, especially the Year 11s who are about to leave as a way of helping them decide what they want to do next."