Maths is Child's Play to Joshua Cadney.

Everything is adding up nicely for mathematical prodigy Joshua Cadney. Now in year 8, Joshua is 12, but is readying himself to take his GCSEs in under 12 months.

He started learning basic maths before he started primary school. Maths teacher Mrs. Kennedy said: "His primary school warned us he was exceptional. They were right. I have been here four years and I have never seen anybody so advanced at such a young age.

"He is an absolute joy to teach because he understands everything immediately and has already more or less covered his GCSE syllabus."

Clever Joshua has been getting starred A grades in mock exams, but will not sit the real thing until June 2001 because he has to complete coursework. If everything goes to plan, he will start taking A-level modules the following year - three years before most children sit their GCSEs.

Unsurprisingly, maths is his favourite subject, but he also enjoys science and electronic technology. And it is no surprise that, after university, he would like a career working with numbers. He jokes: "You might think I get more spare time than everyone else, but my homework is harder so it never works out that way."

When he is not studying Joshua likes playing tennis and computer games.

Article appeared originally in The Free Press (07/07/00) and was written by Brian Corrigan