A CHILD genius once again reached heady heights after getting his second GCSE A* - at the tender age of 12.

Christopher Hookway, of St Benedict’s Catholic College, in Colchester, opened his results for his statistic GCSE yesterday with his proud parents watching on.

He was rewarded with £500, which he plans to spend on clothing at JD Sports.

Dad Simon Hookway said he was incredibly proud of his son, who took the exam when he was 11.

He said: “It’s been quite hard for me. I had been grilling him on and off for the last two months before the exam.

“Apparently, from what the head of maths at the school told me, the overall score he got in this GCSE wasn’t only an A*, but a good A*.”

Despite his dad’s nerves, Christopher, who lives in Ramsey, was not flustered.

Mr Hookway said: “Of course, Christopher has been super chilled.

“He has put a lot of hard work into this. I hoped he would get an A*, but you never know.

“It’s a really draining GCSE, it’s dull and hard work. I’m really impressed with Christopher.”

Christopher took his first GCSE last year in Maths at just ten-years-old, passing with an A*.

Since then he has featured on Channel 4’s Child Genius, making it into the semi final before the questions became too much for him and he bowed out.

This latest success isn’t the end of Christopher, and his father’s, hopes.

He is already studying for his maths A-level, which he plans to take next year.

Mr Hookway said: “It’s the big one.

“He started studying for that at the end of Year 8. It’s an awful lot more fun and enjoyable and it’s a lot easier than statistics.”

For one day at least though, Christopher will have a rest from the hard work.

Mr Hookway added: “We are going to go to the Clacton Air Show and he can have as many ice creams, and burgers as he wants.

“In the run up to this exam, I gave Christopher a grading system.

“I told him he would have £500 for an A*, £150 for an A and nothing for a B or lower.

“I’m not sure if that’s harsh or not. I think he has already planned out what he is going to buy at JD Sports in his head.”