A SELF-taught child genius who has never spent a single day in school is celebrating after gaining an A* at A-level maths despite being only 10 years old.

Thomas Barnes, of Chilton Close, Leigh, has always been home schooled and learnt the A-level maths syllabus by himself.

He became one of the youngest people in history to achieve an A* in GCSE maths three years ago at the age of seven and is delighted to have repeated the feat at A-level.

His dad Simon, an accountant, said: "His mum Angela, sister Ellie and I are absolutely delighted with Thomas’ result.

“He thought he was going to get an A grade because there was a really difficult question which he couldn't do.

"But there was no need to worry because he passed all three papers with flying colours.

"Thomas is really pleased.

"What he teaches himself is beyond my mathematical ability now so Angela and I just let him get on with his studies.

“We are so proud of him.”

Thomas' passion for sums and equations started when Angela bought him a maths book from a charity shop for 5p when he was five.

He was immediately engrossed in it and two years later he was gaining the highest possible grade after sitting GCSE maths exams devised for 16-year-olds.

Thomas collected his result for A-level maths alongside a group of 18-year-olds at Atherton Community School at 9.30am yesterday and is now setting his sights on acing further maths at A-level and physics at GCSE, with his ultimate aim being to work as a nuclear engineer at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland.

That has been his dream job since he watched a documentary about the high-tech facility presented by Professor Brian Cox when he was five.

The computer games fan also has ambitions of going to university and will be carrying out experiments at the University of Bolton in October as part of the Manchester Science Festival.

Simon, 44, added: "He has been given advice from a professor at a science roadshow about which subjects would be best for him to study.

"That made it clear to him what he needs to do to keep progressing."

Thomas' six-year-old sister Ellie, who is also home schooled, hopes to follow in his footsteps when she takes her GCSE maths exams next year.

She aspires to be a doctor.