High Court to rule on gifted pupil

A 14-year-old girl with a high IQ is due to find out if her local education authority will pay towards her private education.

Caroline Southern, of Sonning Common, who hopes to become an architect or lawyer, has written a novel and taught herself to play the piano.

Her father, Dr Tim Southern, says her local comprehensive, Reading Girls School, has failed her.

At the High Court he is calling for Oxfordshire County Council to pay £2,500 a year towards her attendence at the independent Peterborough High School.

Maths talent

The case challenges the council's refusal to help financially in June 2003.

At the hearing in London, before Deputy Judge Andrew Nicol QC, Dr Southern said Caroline should be treated as having special educational needs.

Her counsel, Nicholas Bowen, said her general ability was in the exceptionally high range with an IQ of 138 and a special talent in science and mental maths.

She had been fast-tracked into Year 10 at Peterborough, he said.

But in June, the county council said: "This local education authority is not in a position to fund such a placement in the absence of a formal assessment and subsequent statement of Caroline's special educational needs."

A ruling is expected later on Friday.