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Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 August, 2003, 10:26 GMT 11:26 UK
Child genius rejected by universities
Adam Spencer aged 10
Adam says he is being rejected by universities because he is 13.
A high flying A-level student says he is being rejected by universities because he is just 13.

Adam Spencer already has a B-grade in maths and this summer sat a further three A-level exams.

Although the child genius is expecting top grades in French, biology and chemistry on Thursday, he cannot secure a place at university because of his age.

Adam, from Arlesey, Bedfordshire, was hoping to read biochemistry, but universities say legislation prevents him from studying.

If Adam were to attend university, all of his lecturers would have to be screened to allow them to teach children.

At the moment lecturers do not have to undergo this process as they teach students aged 18 and over.

He breaks all the government's targets for achievement, yet he is shunned
Adam's father, Paul Spencer
Screening lecturers would also mean an added cost to the university of Adam's choice.

But Adam's family say he is desperate to continue his studies and would have no problems coping with life at university.

His father, Paul, 37, said they have even pleaded with Education Secretary Charles Clarke to intervene.

"He is more advanced than many 18-year-olds and would stagnate if we kept him at secondary school," he said.

"I've rung the universities but they say he's too young.

"He breaks all the government's targets for achievement, yet he is shunned."

Older students

Mr Spencer said Adam was more than capable of adjusting to university life.

"When he went into secondary school to do his GCSEs he was studying with older kids.

"He then progressed straight on to his A-levels with them.

"He just took it in his stride and fitted in very well."

Adam studied for his A-levels at Samuel Whitbread Community College, Clifton in Shefford.

He passed his maths A-level at the age of 10, taking a one year course at an adult education class run by Luton Sixth Form College.

As a child he even began reciting the alphabet at 18-months-old.


WATCH AND LISTEN
The BBC's Navdip Dhariwal
"The problem for universities is that staff have to be screened to work with young children"



SEE ALSO:
Universities' admissions challenge
22 Mar 03  |  Education
Maths A-level, age 10
17 Aug 00  |  Education
Seven-year-old makes GCSE history
26 Aug 99  |  exams99
Pupils as young as five to take GCSE
24 Aug 99  |  Education
A GCSE at age six
28 Aug 98  |  Education


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