A seven-year-old Indian-origin boy in the UK has achieved a feat that would normally be associated with teenagers. Jivyan Reddy Dhruva, who lives in South Ruislip in west London, has cleared the GCSE Higher Mathematics examination at an age when most children are still in primary school.Jivyan appeared for the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Higher Mathematics exam in May and scored 196 out of 240 across the three papers, earning a Grade 8, which is equivalent to an A. GCSE examinations are generally taken by students around the age of 16.The result was announced alongside those of other GCSE students during GCSE Results Day. A report by Metro said Jivyan is now preparing to move on to A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics, with the next stage of his studies already in sight.
‘I wanted a Grade 9’
Despite his remarkable score, Jivyan had initially hoped for an even higher grade. “I felt really excited when I saw my result. My parents were very happy, and they hugged me,” he told PTI.“I wanted a Grade 9, so I was a little disappointed at first, but then I was very happy that I got Grade 8,” he added.For Jivyan, however, mathematics appears to be less about grades and more about the challenge of solving problems.“I like maths because I like solving difficult problems and finding different ways to get the answer,” he shared. His ambitions also extend well beyond mathematics. Speaking to the portal, Jivyan said, “Next I want to learn A-level Maths and Further Maths. When I grow up, I want to invent robots and other things that help people. I want to make things that everybody can use.”
Why his parents chose homeschooling
Jivyan, originally from Andhra Pradesh, has been living in west London with his family for almost five years. His father, Dhruva Katta, works as an AI engineer.Until February this year, Jivyan was attending a regular primary school. His father said the family eventually decided to move him to home education after he became “too bored” and wanted a different way of learning.Katta said the family had noticed his son’s unusual interest in numbers from a very young age.“Even before nursery, we noticed that he was picking up numbers and mathematical concepts extremely quickly. If we explained something once, he would often understand the pattern behind it and start asking questions that went beyond what we had actually taught him,” he said.The decision to homeschool was therefore not simply about accelerating his studies, but about allowing him to learn at a pace that suited him.AI, puzzles and custom games are part of his learningJivyan’s education at home does not follow the conventional image of a child spending hours sitting at a desk with textbooks. His father explained that the family uses a combination of technology and hands-on activities to keep his learning engaging.“We have also used AI as a learning tool to make some subjects more interactive and engaging for him. We try not to make home education feel like sitting in a classroom for the whole day. A lot of learning happens through custom games and apps that I created for him, conversations, puzzles, diagrams, practical examples and questions,” Katta shared.While homeschooling gives Jivyan the flexibility to move quickly through subjects he understands, his family is also conscious of the social side of growing up.Katta acknowledged that his son does miss some parts of attending school. However, Jivyan regularly spends time with other children through activities and clubs. His interests include chess, football and tennis, among other hobbies, giving him opportunities to make friends and interact with peers.Also read:Bribe or reward? How Gen Zalpha parents are striking deals at home‘The idea of the perfect parent is a myth. We all fumble and learn as we go’
His father wants him to have a normal childhood
For Katta, the GCSE result is impressive, but it is not the only thing that makes his son stand out.“We are incredibly proud of Jivyan, but what makes us happiest is not simply the Grade 8 or the number on his certificate. What impresses us most is his curiosity,” he said.The family, according to Katta, never set out with the specific goal of having Jivyan sit a GCSE examination at seven.“We never started out with a target that he must take GCSE Mathematics at seven. His learning kept progressing naturally, and eventually we realised that he was ready to attempt the examination,” he added. And despite his extraordinary academic achievement, his parents do not want Jivyan’s childhood to become defined by exams.“Even after this result, we want to keep everything in perspective. He is a seven-year-old child first. We want him to play, make friends, enjoy chess and football, make mistakes and have a normal childhood,” Katta said.“We are obviously very proud of what he has achieved, but we are even more interested in where his curiosity takes him next,” he added.For now, that curiosity is taking Jivyan towards A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics. His longer-term dream is even more ambitious: creating robots and inventions that can make a difference to people’s lives.
