MATHS whizz Christopher Hookway is celebrating after getting a GCSE A* grade in the subject...at the age of 11.

Christopher spent six months swotting up to take the exam at only 10 years old alongside 15 and 16-year-olds at St Benedict’s Catholic College, Colchester – the school where he is due to start next term. He has since turned 11.

After the results arrived, Christopher’s dad, Simon, said: “It’s fantastic.

We were all shocked. We thought he could do it, but we were still shocked.

“I spoke to the teachers at the school and they were over the moon, too. I’m told he got the fourth best score in the whole school for maths.

“It’s a really good result for him and we’re going to go out to dinner to celebrate.

“I also know he’s been hankering after an Apple watch."

Christopher, who lives in Ramsey, a pupil at Two Village Primary School, Ramsey, only turned 11 last month.

He first discovered a talent for maths while studying for his 11-plus exam, which he flunked because his English result wasn't as good as his maths score.

Not wanting to put his hard work and natural talent to waste, Christopher and his dad decided to work towards a GCSE, spending 90 minutes a night boning up for the exam.

In January, the youngster sat a mock GCSE paper and was a few marks of an A* mark, so resolved to work extra-hard before the real thing. In May, the Gazette r e p o r t e d Christopher was w o r k i n g towards the GCSE.

Yesterday he said: “I’m really happy. I was nervous to open the envelope but when I saw the A*, I couldn’t believe it. I was overwhelmed.”

Christopher, who recently won a prize as the best maths achiever at Two Village Primary School, is now hoping to start a statistics GCSE course and some science-based studies..

If all goes to plan, while his classmates are studying for their GCSEs, he will be sitting A-Level maths and further maths.