A* GCSE aged just 13
BRAINBOX Olivia Steel left no stone unturned in her quest to land an A* at GCSE – at the age of just 13.
Two one-and-a-half-hour exam papers in GCSE geology proved to be a breeze for the whizzkid, who marvelled in the subject, which is the study of the physical matter and energy that make up the Earth, despite her young years.
The former pupil of Hart Primary School, in Hartlepool, opened her GCSE result along with teenagers around three years older than her last week and was stunned when she saw the A*.
It is believed she is the youngest to achieve this in the history of the school.
The youngster, who attends Red House School, in Norton, where she sat the exam in May, said: "I'm elated.
"It was such a surprise. I thought I was going to get a B and couldn't believe it when I saw my grade.
"I'm really excited."
Olivia, who lives with her parents, Lisa, 42, and Chris, 46, and seven-year-old sister, Harriet, in Wolviston, was in Year 9 when she joined five Year 10 students to sit the tough exam.
Olivia added: "I was the only girl to sit it and the others were all older than me.
"Part of it included us drawing fossils and for our coursework we had to go on field trips and do experiments."
Proud mum Lisa said: "I'm really chuffed.
"She rang me up to tell me her result while I was at work and I was just so overwhelmed.
"It's very rare to take a full GCSE at such a young age and to get an A* is phenomenal.
"We're all over the moon, we wish her all the best for the rest of her GCSEs in a few years."
Lisa added: "There's a really special teacher there called Tony Makin who gave up all his free time so the kids can go in and do geology and he takes them on field trips to the National History museum.
"This guy really is a complete inspiration and the school is fantastic."
Lisa said Olivia, who turned 14 on June 1, isn't sure what she wants to do in the future as she is still so young and it was still not yet known what grades she is predicted in the rest of her GCSEs.
Dr Jonathan Allinson, from Red House School, said: "To achieve an A* at such a young age is exceptional.
"This is a testament to all the hard work put in by Olivia and Tony Makin, Red House School's head of science.
"We are all very proud of this fantastic achievement."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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