Chemistry A Level student achieves A* grade at just 15

Boldon prodigy Charlotte Davis was awarded an A* in chemistry after just seven months of study. Most students study for two years and are 18 when they sit the exam.

A Level grades in 2020 have been decided by methods other than exams due to coronavirus. Charlotte began her studies in September 2019. She was home schooled through the Oxford Learning College, which provides distance learning.

Like many youngsters, she was forced to give up much when the UK went into lockdown in March, including roller figure skating and dancing. But her studies continued. Then came the upsetting news that the June exams had been cancelled.

Charlotte had to decide whether to study for another year and sit the exam in 2021, or to submit her work in May. She opted to do two months of very hard work. The decision paid off and confirmation came on August 13 that she had been given a well-deserved A*.

Charlotte lives with her mother, Joanne Davis, who runs a hair and beauty clinic.

Joanne said: “Lockdown was massively disruptive. It was really hard at first, but she’d already started revising in January and she kept working for the exams in June.

“She was devastated when the exams were cancelled. She turned 15 on May 20 and spent all of her birthday working. They looked at everything to get her final grade.”

Charlotte said: “On the morning I got the results I had them sent to my mam’s phone. She said ‘Charlotte! you got an A*’ It was amazing. We went out for a meal to celebrate.

“It was really emotional. I cried my eyes out. It makes me feel quite brainy.”

Charlotte, who attained three GCSEs in Year Six aged 11, intends to sit two more A Levels in maths and English literature, before heading for university to study economics when she is 17.

She added: “I’ve got conditional acceptance from Durham University. Once I’ve got my degree I want to do a PHD.”

A young woman of seemingly endless talents, Charlotte is also a gifted harpist.

Read more: Sunderland University boss says universities left to 'pick up the pieces' of A-level downgrading

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