A CHILD genius is taking some time out to relax after getting an A in A- level maths- at the age of just 13.

Christopher Hookway, who goes to St Benedict’s Catholic College, in Colchester, opened his results for his maths qualification yesterday having sat the exam when he was 12.

Christopher, who hopes to become a stocks and shares trader in Canary Wharf, already has an A* GCSE in statistics and in maths under his belt.

Students would usually sit a Maths A-level aged 17 or 18 and would learn over two years.

But Christopher did his A level in nine months.

Christopher, who lives in Ramsey, said: “It was a lot of work, I was doing maths revision at school and at home.

“For the first five months I didn’t do much revision, maybe an hour a day. But the closer we got to the exam I didn’t know as much as I needed to, so I was working for about four hours.

“I was still able to spend time with friends. It’s quite good I didn’t get an A* as I have room to improve.”

Christopher, who is sporting a trendy blonde hairstyle for the summer, has been watching films like The Theory of Everything, a documentation of Stephen Hawking’s life, to find inspiration.

His dad, Simon, said: “He actually understands what they are doing on the blackboard in the films, I think it’s unbelievable. I’m in complete awe, I was never like that at his age.

“To be able to sit down and engage with a then 12-year-old about stuff that Einstein is doing, it’s absolutely fantastic.”

Christopher says now his A-level revision is over, he wants to relax.

He is not quite finished yet as he will take the new GCSE maths in June, which will be graded from 1-9, with 9 being the highest score.

Mr Hookway said: “He could have taken Further Maths but it’s a lot of work.

“We have agreed this is probably it now, it has been a great journey and this A-level did prove quite a lot of work.

“It seemed like in terms of material it was the equivalent of about three GCSEs.

“I don’t want him to have to put that much pressure into doing anything else any more. We have proved he is clever, now we want him to do well at school.”

It is hoped Christopher will go to Colchester Royal Grammar School for A-levels and then Cambridge University.

Mr Hookway said: “There is something special about grammar schools, when you come out the other side you can do anything, and that’s what I want for Chris, I want him to have all the opportunities.”

Christopher will not be sitting the new maths GCSE exam alone. He will be in the same room as his ten-year- old brother, James.

James, a Two Village Primary School pupil, is taking the GCSE five years early to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

James said: “I want to be a doctor. My favourite subject at the moment is history because I like looking at things that have happened in the past.

“I feel great about sitting GCSEs, I’m proud of Chris as he kept with it.

I want to be as good as my brother.”

Christopher, who has already made it into the semi-final of Channel 4’s Child Genius, said he will be featuring in the Christmas special in December.

He said it was a really fun experience and enjoyed taking part in the specialist subject round, which focussed on Einstein.

He is confident he will achieve his dream job in the City.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to be a stocks and shares trader as it’s fun and interesting and you earn lots of money.”