A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl has become the youngest person ever to pass a GCSE. Geetha Thaninathan completed a two-year course in IT in just nine months, studying only one morning a week.

Geetha and her family, from Barming, near Maidstone, were thrilled to discover on Thursday that she had gained a C grade.

Learning to type aged just two, Geetha picked up compter skills so quickly that she was quickly enrolled at a private college for exceptional children.

She said: "When the results came through I felt nervous. But when I saw that I had got a C grade I just got happier and happier and happier."

Geetha's parents, Kandasamy and Premalatha Thaninathan, arranged for her to go to Ryde College, Hertfordshire, one morning a week, while continuing with her other classes at West Borough Primary School, Maidstone.

Her parents said they were very proud of her. "We knew from early on that she was very able," said Mr Thaninathan. "She has such an inquisitive mind and she picks things up very quickly."

"In no way did we force her to do the exam," added Mr Thaninathan. "It was her own choice. She was confident she could do it."