A SCHOOLBOY genius has amazed teachers by passing his GCSE German exam FOUR YEARS early.

Twelve-year-old David Eckhardt, who attends Fred Longworth High, has been awarded grade A, thanks to a combination of his own talent and coaching from his German-born dad.

David lives with his mum Heidi and sister Stephanie in Lingmoor Drive, Tyldesley, and has had coaching from his dad Ernst who still lives in Stuttgart.

The youngster himself lived in Germany when he was younger.

David said: "I knew some German from before but it was still hard work to do the exam."

He is now turning his attention to French - which he is finding a tougher task.

Spokesman for the school in Printshop Lane, Peter Hodgkinson said: "David's teacher John Jackson decided to put him in for the exam early because of his fluent knowledge of German.

"But even taking that into account it is still a tremendous achievement for a boy of his age."

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