A 14-year-old boy who studied in Watford received his second grade B at A-level in August.

Ilia Karmanov, of Roxeth Hill, Harrow, is about to start studying for his GCSEs, but has already passed A-level economics earlier this year, and computing, when he was 11.

He passed economics after studying it for only seven months in his spare time.

Ilia said: "I got interested in economics as I have been currency trading on the internet recently after starting in stocks and shares.

"I have made a nice amount of money through that. It is silly to do four A-levels in two years as it's so stressful.

"I got my computing A-level at 11 and that gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities. Now I have got two in the bag for later.

"I do not think I will take any more A-levels as I have my GCSEs coming up.

"Eventually I want to go on to study at the London School of Economics and then maybe work in investments, possibly with Morgan Stanley, or something related to that area."

Ilia was a pupil at Ryde College in Watford, which specialises in teaching computing skills to young children and encourages them to take qualifications when they were ready rather than taking their age into account.

The college closed this year but its services continue on two sites, one at Bushey Meads School in Coldharbour Lane, Bushey, and the other in Harrow.

Both operate under the name Ryde Teaching Services.

Managing director, Michael Ryde, said: "Some people are under the impression that we have a lot of young geniuses on our courses.

"This is not true; we believe that all children can get these qualifications if given the opportunity.

"Underpinning all of our courses is the belief that children have an amazing ability to learn and should be allowed to progress according to their ability, rather than being held back due to their age."

In the past, Ryde College has taught the youngest pupils nationally to attain passes at GCSE and A-level.

In 2000, one of their six-year-old students became the youngest person to pass a GCSE and in 1992 an 11-year-old became the youngest to get a pass at A-level.

They have between 100 and 150 students every year and the focus is on teaching computer skills. There are even some courses available for babies and toddlers.

Last year, the average age for GCSE candidates studying at Ryde was 12.

For more information on the courses available, visit www.rydeteaching.co.uk.