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Child prodigy Ruth Lawrence made history when she came a clear first out of the 530 candidates, who sat the entrance exam for St. Hugh's College, Oxford. The all-women's college is likely to offer her a scholarship. Ruth sat three three-hour papers in Mathematics. «I was happy with the first two» she said afterwards, «but I wasn't sure about the third».
Ruth has never been to school. Her father, Harry Lawrence, a computer consultant, gave up his job when Ruth was five to educate her at home. Her mother, Sylvia, who also deals with computers, goes out to work.
Harry Lawrence explained that, besides Mathematics, Ruth also enjoyed English, History, Geography, Nature study and other subjects. She began to read at four and started academic subjects at five. «We did not start off with the thought that she would not go to school» he said, «but we enjoyed teaching her so much and we seemed to be good job of it, so we just carried on».
Because she does not go to school, Ruth has not mixed much with other children. «She enjoys serious conversation with adults», her father said, «and I don't think she will feel out of place at Oxford». He does not think she works harder than other children her age, but concentrates on what she enjoys, principally mathematic. «She watches television a little but not as a habit» he explained. «But she plays the piano and has quite a wide range of interests».
If she does well at St.Hugh's, Ruth expects to take a further degree and then hopes to become a research professor in Mathematics - an ambition she may achieve while still in her teens. The Lawrence family plans to move to Oxford when Ruth takes up her place in October. Before then, she plans to take school final exams to satisfy the college requirements. Her father hopes she will not have to pass a foreign language as it is far from her main interest.
Miss Rachel Trickett, the principal of St.Hugh's, says that they are all very excited about Ruth. Ruth's future university teacher, Dr. Glenys Luke, admits that taking such a young student is a great responsibility, but says she expects to enjoy it. «I shall change a course a little to suit her. Ruth shouldn't have to suffer the same tensions and disappointments that older students face. I hope I shall make it fun for her» she said.
When the Lawrence family heard about Ruth's achievement, they all jumped up and down. When Ruth becomes a student, Harry Lawrence looks forward to concentrating his efforts on the younger sister Rebecca, seven. «She is doing very well» he said, «but it's too early to tell whether she's a mathematician.»
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