A 17-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to murdering schoolgirl Ellie Gould.
Thomas Griffiths entered a guilty plea as he appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday morning.
The teenager, who can now be named for the first time after a judge lifted reporting restrictions, admitted murdering Ellie, an A-level student at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, Wiltshire, on May 3.
Ellie, 17, was pronounced dead from stab wounds after emergency services were called to a house on Springfield Drive, Calne, at 3.15pm.
Judge Peter Blair QC, the Recorder of Bristol, said sentencing would take place on a later date to allow for reports on the defendant to be prepared.
He told the court it was "appropriate, reasonable and proportionate" for him to lift reporting restrictions that prevented the media from identifying Griffiths.
Judge Blair told the defendant: "Your case is going to be adjourned for sentence to November 8."
Griffiths, wearing a white shirt and dark blue suit, was remanded in custody until that date.
Ellie's family previously paid tribute to the keen horse rider and animal-lover as "fun-loving and a joy to be around".
They added: "We would like Ellie to be remembered as a kind, caring young lady with a wonderful, fun personality."
Speaking after Griffiths pleaded guilty, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Taylor said: "Ellie was murdered as a result of a violent attack.
"Ellie was in her first year of sixth form and was looking forward to the next steps in her education.
"Her parents have told me that she was considering a career in the police and had been looking into attending university.
"The options available to Ellie were endless but her hopes and dreams will now sadly never be realised.
"On the day Ellie was murdered, officers were able to quickly identify and arrest Griffiths.
"Although he initially denied having seen Ellie that day, or in the days before her death, he has today pleaded guilty to her murder."
