By Gavin Mackintosh-
In a stunning feat of academic prowess, 11-year-old Harry Thew(pictured) has achieved the seemingly impossible – securing a perfect score on his maths GCSE exam despite taking it five years ahead of schedule.
Harry’s remarkable accomplishment has not only drawn widespread admiration but also ignited discussions about the boundless potential of young minds and the transformative power of passion.
Harry’s exceptional journey commenced at Bede Academy, nestled in the heart of Blyth, Northumberland.
A Year 6 student at the time, Harry displayed an uncanny affinity for numbers and an insatiable curiosity for mathematical puzzles. With a mere two marks deducted across one paper and a mere five on the second, he soared to the pinnacle of academic achievement with an unparalleled grade 9. He performed better than virtually all 16 year old’s taking the same paper
“It’s quite good. I thought I would get an 8 or 9 because I did in the mocks. Some of the questions were easy, some were harder and some were in the middle,” Harry humbly acknowledged, downplaying his prodigious accomplishment.
Pass rates for mathematics in the UK are usually low, and this year was no exception.
The proportion of the 154,023 post-16 students achieving a grade 4 – equivalent to a C in the old system – in 2023 is 16.4 per cent. The pass rate for 2022 was 20.1 per cent, and in 2019 it was 21.2 per cent.
GCSE maths re-sit pass rate was also low for both genders, with 16.4 per cent for females and 16.3 per cent for males.
In English, the proportion of the 117,155 post-16 students achieving a grade 4 in 2023 is 25.9 per cent. The pass rate for 2022 was 28.4 per cent, and in 2019 it was 30.3 per cent.
Harry’s journey was not only driven by innate talent but also a boundless love for the subject. “Maths is just something he likes. He has a very high IQ and he’s always loved puzzles, numbers, and logic,” shared his mother, Elizabeth Thew, a primary school teacher in Blyth.
Harry’s passion for mathematics was evident from an early age, as he aced a Year 2 SAT paper, prompting school authorities to acknowledge his exceptional aptitude.
As the Thew family marveled at Harry’s unique gift, the decision to take the GCSE exam years ahead of schedule was largely driven by the young prodigy himself. “It wasn’t because we wanted him to do it, it was Harry who wanted to do it. When he was asked why, he said ‘why not?'” Elizabeth recalled.
On the day of the exam, Harry joined the ranks of Year 11 students, embarking on an academic odyssey that belied his age. Undeterred by the weight of expectations, he approached the challenge with quiet confidence, bolstered by meticulous preparation and practice papers.
As accolades pour in for Harry’s remarkable achievement, Bede Academy Principal Andrew Thelwell commends the young prodigy’s unwavering dedication. “Harry has always worked extremely hard in every subject and is an exceptionally talented young man who has done superbly well in his maths GCSE,” Thelwell stated, highlighting the rigorous effort Harry poured into his studies.
With a new benchmark set, Harry’s journey continues as he embarks on the next phase of his education at Bede Secondary in Year 7. The path ahead holds endless possibilities for this mathematical virtuoso, as conversations swirl about potential A-level pursuits and the uncharted territory of his future career.
As for the young maestro himself, Harry is modest about his accomplishments and unassuming about his future ambitions. “I’d like to continue with it, but I have no idea what I want to do when I’m older,” he admits with a characteristic humility that speaks volumes about his genuine passion for learning.
In a world where each generation strives to outdo the last, Harry Thew’s exceptional journey serves as a poignant reminder that passion, coupled with dedication, can bridge the gap between age and achievement, inspiring all to embrace their innate potential and dream beyond boundaries.
The news of his success comes as a 9-year-old called Harry Clark also passed his maths GCSE’s after sitting the foundation level exam in spring this year, and like thousands of students across England, received his results on Thursday.
The young lad who hopes to work for a Formula One team in the future received a strong pass at grade 5 and said he found the exam “relatively easy”, and now wants to take the higher papers.
The overall pass rate in this year’s GCSE’s was 68%, down from 73.2% in 2022, and 77.1% in 2021, when exams were cancelled and results based on teachers’ assessments.
Tens of thousands more 16-year-olds in England will need to resit their English and maths GCSE exams as a result of this year’s grading.
More students sat GCSEs this year but the proportion marked as fails has also risen since 2022 and is now closer to where it was in 2019.