Nine-year-old from Lewisham passes second GCSE exam in two years

A nine-year-old student from Lewisham has achieved Grade 8 iGCSE Physics during lockdown, taking the exam an incredible six years early. 

Seojin Park, known as Ipin, who is in Year 5 at Blackheath High School, was inspired by her science lessons at school and started studying physics during her summer holidays.  

She decided to take her exam early through the sheer joy of learning the subject and to help her better understand the science.  

Ipin’s parents organised for her to take the exam, and Ipin was supported by her teachers who helped for her sit the exam externally. 

This meant learning from a different syllabus, so the Head of Physics at Blackheath High Senior School shared with Ipin the resources she needed to excel from home. 

Physics isn’t the first GCSE Ipin has taken early, having passed her IGCSE Maths Higher Tier in 2019, when she was just seven years old.  

When asked what her advice to other young pupils who want to excel at their studies would be, Ipin said: “I recommend that they study the subject having fun like I do. I normally read books, watch science videos, play with materials and explain what I have learnt by writing on a whiteboard to my parents.”  

Ipin is now studying towards taking her A Levels in maths and physics, and has big ambitions for the future.

She said: “I would like to be the youngest person to attend the University of Cambridge. I like explaining topics to others and want to help people understand physics, so I want to become a professor at a university in the future.”  

Sarah Skevington, Head of Juniors at Blackheath High School said: “Ipin embodies the Blackheath High spirit as an ambitious, driven and passionate pupil who is set on following her dreams. We’re proud that Ipin was able to achieve this during the pandemic whilst learning from home.”  

Carol Chandler Thompson, Head at Blackheath High School said: “The pandemic presented many difficult challenges for all schools. But now we can reflect on the opportunities which arose, offering an insight into the future of education. Ipin is an excellent example of what can be achieved through innovations in learning, that really became apparent during school closures.”