AN 11-year-old boy from the borough became the youngest ever person to get an A-Level in computing.

Ilia Karmanov, of Mount Park Road, Ealing, got a B in A-Level computing in just nine months instead of the usual two years it takes to complete the course at Ryde College, based in Watford.

Aged just 10 years and 10 months when he sat the examination in June this year, Ilia was one of a group of 27 students who studied and sat the examination at Ryde College. Of the 27 students two-thirds were below the normal age for taking this examination.

Ilia spoke to the Times about his academic achievement. He said: "I was quite astonished with the results. I am overjoyed with such a high grade as I thought I would get a C or a D.

"I want to go to university and do a PHD in Computer Science but I would love to work for a company that makes computer games because I love playing them."

Ilia's mother was really surprised with her son's achievement but was extremely proud of him. She said: "Oh my God, it is very, very exciting. It is difficult to tell how early on he had an interest in computers but last year I was phoning around colleges for him as he was desperate for more knowledge.

"Somebody told me about Ryde College so I took him there for an interview. He was accepted in September last year and sat the A-Level this June. I told him not to do it as I thought it was too hard but he proved me wrong."

Ryde College has enabled more than 1,000 children to achieve academic qualifications at an early age and believes that children should be given the chance to enhance their natural academic abilities.

Mike Ryde, managing director of Ryde College, said: "We are very pleased with Ilia's performance. We believe that children should not be held back because of their age but that does not mean pushing them.

"Ilia was only ten when he started the course and what is even more unique was that he also did programming as part of his coursework and designed his own database application."

Ilia will start at the John Lyon school in Harrow on the Hill this September and is really looking forward to it. He added: "I'm going to do economics at Ryde College over the summer and if I like it then I might do it as an A-Level next year."