'School's too easy and I'm not going'

Fairwater Comprehensive pupil, Cliff, 13, has a Mensa-ranked IQ of 147 - putting him among the brainiest people in the UK.

But his mum, Gwynnyth Little, 49, says Cliff is desperate to move up a year because he finds schoolwork "unchallenging" and "completely demoralising".

The teenager says he is mocked by classmates, who call him "swot".

Ms Little, a single mother, of Cocker Avenue, St Dials, now faces a £1,000 fine because her son is refusing to go to school.

She said: "He finds school demoralising, the work he's doing he finds too easy. He feels he can find more challenging work to do at home, and I have been threatened with a fine as he's only been in on three days since half-term. When he does get the bus to school I go with him to make sure he actually goes into school."

Cliff said: "I want to be moved up a year - it's more challenging at home! I am teased - the others call me 'swot' as it's swots that I tend to hang around with."

His mother claims that despite repeated requests to his school and Torfaen council, education officials say he will not be moved.

She said: "I have been requesting he be moved up a year throughout his two years at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, Trevethin and at Fairwater."

Cliff took a Mensa IQ test at Cardiff University in April and his score was 147.

His mum added: "If he was encouraged I think he could pass his GCSEs with A and B grades next summer."

Torfaen's executive member for education, leisure and young people, John Turner, said: "I'm aware of this matter and referred it to the assistant director of our pupil access service. But this is not a matter for the LEA.

"Hopefully his problems can be addressed, the first of which must be his problem of attendance.

"But obviously I would like to see him receive an education to suit his needs - that could be moving up a year."

Fairwater Comprehensive School head teacher Stephen Cocks told the Argus he would discuss Cliff's situation with the council today.