A NINE-year-old girl passionate about numbers has picked up a C grade in GCSE maths. Pheobe Dampare, a pupil at St Margaret s Primary School, North Street, Barking, now has two GCSEs under her belt, after achieving a D in the same subject last year. H

A NINE-year-old girl 'passionate about numbers' has picked up a C grade in GCSE maths.

Pheobe Dampare, a pupil at St Margaret's Primary School, North Street, Barking, now has two GCSEs under her belt, after achieving a D in the same subject last year.

Hard-working Pheobe, of North Street, said she was very pleased with this year's result and described the exam, normally taken by 16-year-olds, as 'easy'.

She prepared for the test by working through a book called Maths Manual, which attempts to simplify mathematical concepts. It's written by Barking-born Anne-Marie Imafidon, who began an undergraduate degree in maths at the age of 13. She is now 19.

Pheobe's father, Emmanuel Osei-Dampare, said he was very proud of his daughter's impressive result.

He added: "She has been passionate about numbers from a young age, but the book has made a big difference. She was sometimes left frustrated with difficult mathematical concepts but the Maths Manual explained them in a simple way, which has helped her a lot."

Pheobe's teacher William Sharp, said: "It's an amazing achievement. I look forward to seeing her make even more progress this year."

Pheobe takes part in the Excellence in Education programme at the Stratford Centre, Stratford, which works with children in inner-cities and socially deprived areas.