Home-schooled 12-year-old's GCSEs success

"When I saw my results, I was exhilarated, and I was very happy to see my entire family be proud of my successful results."

At only 12 years old, Ariel, who lives in Bicester has gained six GCSEs plus an advanced mathematics qualification over the past three years after being home-schooled since the Covid pandemic.

In 2024 as a 10-year-old Ariel passed two GCSEs with a nine in maths and chemistry. In 2025 she had two grade nines in Physics and Further Maths.

On Thursday she added GCSE Biology (grade 9), GCSE Further Pure Mathematics (grade 8) and an A grade in OCR Additional Mathematics - an advanced maths qualification that introduces concepts usually studied before A-levels.

Her older sister Clara, 23, who supported Ariel and their 15-year-old brother Elias with their studies, says the key to their success was "the fact that they just didn't give up and tried hard, even without us telling them".

Clara said her younger sister is "bright and has lots of talents".

"Although she knows that she is young herself, she is determined to not lose against others, not only for the academic side but all other things she does in her free time."

Ariel likes maths which she finds interesting and "easier" compared to other subjects.

Clara says she also has "a very strong passion to become someone who comes out on TV often", as Ariel enjoysK-dramas and K-pop.

The 12-year-old also says she would "like to teach as a lecturer for a subject that seems interesting, to share the fantastic knowledge [with] other students".

She now looks forward to celebrating her success over the weekend with "nice movies" and a family dinner.

Clara says the family "always praise [Ariel] so much [because of] how well she's been doing".

She and their other sisters Ella and Juliana have home-schooled the younger siblings since the Covid pandemic, with their parents' help as well.

"But the key to their success is the fact that they just didn't give up and tried hard, even without us telling them," she says.

"With their motivation, they managed to get the score.

"Since I'm doing tutoring, ... I always tell other people as well 'You have to be the one who needs to be self-motivated to self-study because [nobody] can do the study for you'. And so that's what Ariel and Elias did."

Building on his 2024 A-levels exams success, Elias, received an unconditional offer to study biomedical engineering at Imperial College London from September 2025, where he is "motivated to work hard" in the upcoming second year.

Clara says that has been "another driving factor" behind her younger sister's studies.

Their parents say the family "all helped each other and managed to achieve something that others couldn't".

Clara shared that they are "very excited" to see what happens in the future.

The family are now preparing a surprise for the younger siblings before the next academic year.

As they have recently moved from Staffordshire, Clara says they look forward to explore and enjoy their new home.