A 12-year-old boy has proved he is years ahead of his contemporaries by achieving five impressive grades at GCSE.

Jonathan Pearson, of Brockhill Lane, near Tardebigge, gained three Bs and two Cs following a tumultuous ride through state education.

Jonathan, who wants to be an astrophysicist, was relieved by his results following high profile media coverage of his plight, including a BBC investigation in Classrooms at War.

Proud mum, Rachel Pearson, said: "When Jonathan got his results he didn't shout for joy but was more relieved than anything.

"He didn't expect As but there again, he completed his course in only 36 weeks as opposed to two years, which is great."

Mrs Pearson felt let down by state education after it failed to provide her son with the stimulus he needed to progress. Jonathan was educated at home before he joined Richmond College, Moseley, Birmingham.

Mrs Pearson said: "He had a really bad time at school and when we took him out, we did feel sad.

"The intention was for him to go back to middle school but it didn't work out.

"He is a gifted lad but they couldn't grasp the fact that, at 12 years old, he could do GCSEs."

Jonathan will now go on to do A-levels and AS-levels in chemistry, physics and maths at Richmond College.