GCSE Results Day 2013: Monty Rix, 10-Year-Old With NASA Dreams, Gets B In Astronomy | HuffPost

10-Year-Old With Dreams Of Joining Nasa Aces Astronomy GCSE

The Huffington Post/PA

GCSE Results Day 2013: Monty Rix, 10-Year-Old With NASA Dreams, Gets B In Astronomy

PA

A 10-year-old boy is "over the moon" after achieving a B grade in GCSE astronomy and becoming the youngest person to sit the exam.

Monty Rix, from St Austell in Cornwall, sat the exam six years early and dreams of working for NASA when he is older.

Monty with his result and telescope

He devoted two hours each week to learning about the stars while in Year Five at Pondhu Primary School.

Monty, who hopes to join NASA, the European Space Agency or follow in the footsteps of Brian Cox, will begin his final year at the school in September.

SEE ALSO: Getting Your GCSE Results? Don't Panic
Top Grades Fall For Second Year Running
GCSE Results Day: How To Prepare And Plan Your Future
Six Sets Of Twins At Same School Get 44 A*s, 44 As
GCSE Results Day: Funny Exam Answers

Experts at the Roseland Observatory near St Stephen spent 10 months preparing Monty for his exam, which he took at Launceston College.

"I am over the moon," Monty said.

"It is absolutely brilliant.

"The exam hall was a bit scary but I just put my head down and got on with it.

"Astronomy is just so fascinating. There is always something new and exciting happening.

"Even this week, scientists in Chile saw a star being born 1,400 light years away."

Monty became interested in astrology "as soon as he could stand" after being inspired by father Simon Rix, 42, who has a degree in Astronomy and Physics from UCL.

He started attending sessions at the Roseland Observatory and quickly became passionate about learning about the subject.

Joy For Students GCSE Results

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(01 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Joe Tindall lifts Halil Beydilli as they celebrate after opening their GCSE results outside the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(02 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Students at the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy open their GCSE results on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(03 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Lubabah Kauser opens her GCSE results outside the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(04 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Students at the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy open their GCSE results on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(05 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Students at the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy celebrate after opening their GCSE results on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(06 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: A student at the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy reviews the GCSE results on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(07 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Students Amelia Church (L) and Hannah Clark (C) open their GCSE results outside the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(08 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Lubabah Kauser (L) and Summan Mazhar (R) celebrate as they open their GCSE results outside the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE Results Are Released In The UK(09 of38)

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Students at the Ridings' Federation Winterbourne International Academy review their GCSE results on August 22, 2013 in Bristol, England. As hundreds of thousands of students opened their GCSE results today it has emerged that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

GCSE results(10 of38)

Isabella Soames, great grand-daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, celebrates achieving GCSE grades of 11 A*'s at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex, as students across the country receive their results. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(11 of38)

Isabella Soames, great grand-daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, celebrates achieving GCSE grades of 11 A*'s at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex, as students across the country receive their results. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(12 of38)

Isabella Soames, great grand-daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, celebrates achieving GCSE grades of 11 A*'s at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex, as students across the country receive their results. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(13 of38)

Isabella Soames, great grand-daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, celebrates achieving GCSE grades of 11 A*'s at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex, as students across the country receive their results. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(14 of38)

Hannah Marks (left) and Zoe Halford celebrate their GCSE results at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex, as students across the country receive their results. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(15 of38)

Isabella Soames, great grand-daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, celebrates achieving GCSE grades of 11 A*'s at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex, as students across the country receive their results. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(16 of38)

Hannah Marks (left) and Zoe Halford celebrate their GCSE results at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex, as students across the country receive their results. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(17 of38)

Hannah Marks (left) and Zoe Halford celebrate their GCSE results at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex, as students across the country receive their results. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(18 of38)

Students at Brighton College in East Sussex, celebrate their GCSE results as students across the country receive their marks. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(19 of38)

Students at Brighton College in East Sussex, celebrate their GCSE results as students across the country receive their marks. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(20 of38)

Amelia Wrigley, 16, who has received 11A*s GCSEs and one A at AS-level from Kings' School, in Winchester, Hampshire. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(21 of38)

Becky Robinson reacts after getting her GCSE results at Colonel Frank Seely School, Calverton, Nottinghamshire. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(22 of38)

Students check their GCSE results at Colonel Frank Seely School, Calverton, Nottinghamshire. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(23 of38)

Chloe Warren celebrates after getting eleven GCSE grades A-C at the Colonel Frank Seely School in Calverton, Nottinghamshire. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(24 of38)

Chloe Warren celebrates after getting eleven GCSE grades A-C at the Colonel Frank Seely School in Calverton, Nottinghamshire. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(25 of38)

General view of GCSE results at Colonel Frank Seely School, Calverton, Nottinghamshire. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(26 of38)

Megan Dawes (right) reacts after getting GCSE results at Colonel Frank Seely School, Calverton, Nottinghamshire. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(27 of38)

Amber Smith ( left|) and Becky Robinson check their GCSE results at Colonel Frank Seely School, Calverton, Nottinghamshire. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(28 of38)

Florence Hislop (second right) and Charlotte Penn (right) open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(29 of38)

Twins Minnie Crawley (left) and Tallulah Crawley after opening their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

(left to right) Minnie and Tallulah Crawley, Florence and Dorothy Hislop, George and Sam Price and Marcus and Charlotte Hook, op...(30 of38)

(left to right) Minnie and Tallulah Crawley, Florence and Dorothy Hislop, George and Sam Price and Marcus and Charlotte Hook, open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(31 of38)

Twins Minnie Crawley (left) and Tallulah Crawley after opening their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

Twins Minnie (left) and Tallulah Crawley open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol....(32 of38)

Twins Minnie (left) and Tallulah Crawley open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(33 of38)

(left to right) Minnie Crawley, Tallulah Crawley, Dorothy Hislop, Florence Hislop and Charlotte Penn open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(34 of38)

Students open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(35 of38)

Two sets of twins (left to right) Minnie Crawley, Tallulah Crawley, Florence Hislop and Dorothy Hislop open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(36 of38)

Two sets of twins (left to right) Minnie Crawley, Tallulah Crawley, Florence Hislop and Dorothy Hislop open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(37 of38)

Twins Minnie (left) and Tallulah Crawley (second left) open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

GCSE results(38 of38)

Charlotte Penn (centre) and twins Florence (left) and Dorothy Hislop (right) open their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple in Bristol. (credit:PA)

Liberal Democrat Cornwall councillor Mr Rix said: "Monty is so keen, he finds it very exciting and likes the intellectual challenge.

"The exam wasn't easy, it is hardly a dumbed down subject.

"He spent 10 months learning at the Roseland Observatory.

"If it was a clear night, he would go out and look at the stars and if it wasn't he would be inside learning from books.

"He loved going back to school and telling his teachers about what he had learned.

"He is the youngest person to get a GCSE in Astrology and is thrilled."

Monty lives with father Mr Rix, mother Eileen Rix, 44, who works at the Eden Project and younger sister Libby, six.

Suggest a correction

|

What's Hot

Chris Hemsworth Says He Was 'P***ed Off' By Reactions To His Alzheimer's Revelation

'A New Low': Government Slammed For 'Disgusting' Video Of Migrants Being Rounded Up For Rwanda Flight

Melissa McCarthy Has A Message For Fans Amid Furore Over Barbra Streisand Ozempic Comment

Critics Are Saying This ‘Enticing’ New Historical Drama Is Going To Be Your Next Binge-Watch