AN eight-year-old girl has once again achieved academic success far beyond her years.

Ellie Barnes, of Chilton Close, Leigh, received a Grade 9 in GCSE maths last Thursday - the highest possible mark.

Not content with scoring a 6 in the same subject last year, she went back to her studies to improve her result.

Aspiring doctor Ellie, who sat her GCSE at The Westleigh School, is home educated like her older brother Thomas, 12.

Five years ago, Thomas became one of the youngest person ever to be awarded an A* at GCSE level in Maths at the age of 7.

He followed that up with an A* in A-level maths in 2017 and was handed a 9 in physics last year.

Thomas and Ellie Barnes with their results papers last year.

Thomas and Ellie's dad Simon, 46, said: "It is great what Ellie has achieved.

"Last year when she first sat the maths exam she was not really that confident but since then she has worked really hard to get the result.

"She is really happy with how she has done."

Simon also praised the Westleigh Lane school for its support for Ellie in making the exam conditions comfortable for her.

Meanwhile Thomas received an A in A-level further maths two weeks ago.

He has been sitting his A-levels at St Mary's Catholic High School in Astley.

He is set to take A-level physics next year and explore the possibility of going to university as early as 2021.

Thomas hopes to forge a career at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland in the future.

Simon added: "Me and their mum Angela are really proud of them both."