Two six-year-olds pass their GCSEs

A boy and a girl aged six have become the youngest children yet to pass a GCSE exam. Elissa Patel, who turned six last October, and Rajaei Sharma, born 11 days later, both scored a C in information technology.

A boy and a girl aged six have become the youngest children yet to pass a GCSE exam. Elissa Patel, who turned six last October, and Rajaei Sharma, born 11 days later, both scored a C in information technology.

By margins of only a few days, they surpassed the previous record-holder, Krishan Radia, who obtained a C in a computing GCSE two years ago when he was also six.

Their achievements come on the day that 670,000 students in England and Wales received record GCSE results for the 12th year running.

All three studied for the exam in their spare time at the private Ryde College in Watford, Hertfordshire.

Elissa said she would like a trip to Legoland and an ice cream as a reward for passing the exam.

Her father, Amrish, said: "Elissa lost a tooth last night. She put it under the pillow and I think the tooth fairy came with her results." Her mother, Deepti, said: "It's fantastic and she's worked very hard but there was no expectation for her to do the exam. It was her choice." Elissa's elder sister, Leah, 10, got an A in the same exam.

Rajaei, who has just won his 10-metre swimming certificate and a football trophy, said: "I really like computers but I prefer football. I want to be a pilot for Virgin Airlines."

His sister, Sarkhara, four, will also start studying for her GCSE in information technology next month.