Pupil earns A* grade in Arabic aged 12

Kareem, who was only 12 when he sat the exam, was a pupil at the Bradford Arabic School, a supplementary school which teaches Arabic on a Sunday. He joined the school three years ago and sat the exam three years earlier than planned. The majority of students take the exam at 15.

His father Dr Mostafa Mohamed, a lecturer at Bradford University, said: "We are extremely proud of Kareem, and he is very excited at the fact he has a GSCE. It was a great occasion for us and we celebrated by holding a family party at our home.

"Kareem's Grandma even flew in for Egypt to surprise him."

Kareem attends Guiseley school where head of governors Sharif Kaf Al-Ghazal said: "The school is very pleased that a boy at Kareem's age can attain such a brilliant result. All the children are very committed and we are hugely proud of them all."

The Bradford Arabic School had a similar success three years ago when Zaki Kaf Al-Ghazal was awarded an A* at just 13.