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Thomas and Ellie Barnes receiving their GCSE Photograph: Simon Barnes

Ellie Barnes, seven, and her brother, Thomas, 11, who are home schooled in Leigh received their results today. Ellie who achieved a six in maths said: “I didn’t know what I was going to get so I don’t really mind.” She’s thinking of retaking it next year and maybe studying for science too. She said she felt the exams were “harder than when my brother did it.” Ellie’s brother, Thomas, was the youngest person to get an A* GCSE in 2014 at the age of seven. Their father Simon, said: “He has since completed A-level maths (A*) and is currently studying A-level further maths which he will complete next year. Today he picked up his physics GCSE result in which he got a nine.”



Ellie’s exam paper is different from Thomas’ however. The new maths GCSE involves more problem-solving. Whereas in the previous iteration of the paper, candidates were given a formula to work out a problem from, in the new iteration candidates must derive the formula, then work from there.



The new A-levels and GCSEs could prove problematic and logistically unviable for home schooling families. For example, Thomas’ science A-level previously involved only written assessments; now it requires nine assessed experiments. For these experiments to be assessed, Thomas must travel to an exam centre. I asked Simon why Ellie and Thomas were educated at such a young age. He replied: “Well, she was clearly capable of doing it so I guess the answer is why not?”