A MATHS whizkid who is currently starring in the junior version of hit TV show The Apprentice - has been praised by one of the teachers at his Redbridge school.

Ilford County High School sixth former, Arjun Rajyagor, 17, has been a key component in team Revolution's success on the BBC1 contest Junior Apprentice.

Out of nearly 30,000 applicants - ten ambitious youngsters from across the UK were selected to take part in the competition, with each bidding to win the £25,000 prize by trying to impress billionaire businessman Lord Sugar.

Arjun, who is a prefect at the school in Fremantle Road, Barkingside, helped his team win Wednesday's cupcake challenge by using his talent for figures to ensure they did not over order bases - despite other members insisting they needed more.

Ilford County High's head of sixthform Colin Jenkins said that despite Arjun's new found fame, he is keeping his feat on the ground.

He said: "He is one of our most talented children academically.

"He has been offered a place at Oxford to study engineering.

"The way he comes across on the TV is pretty much the way he is.

"He is very personable and well-liked by the other boys.

"His appearances (on the show) are obviously discussed but the other boys are just taking it in their stride.

"He is in his last year at the school and is currently concentrating on studying for his exams."

In his audition for the show, the young brain-box - who is studying for A-Levels in Physics, Maths and Systems and Control, and an AS-Level in Further Maths - said: "My dream is to own my own company of electrical engineers because everything is becoming robotic, all manufacturing, everything pretty much, even your house.

"Even your microwave oven can be counted as a robot because it does things for you.

"Because electronics is my passion I have been asked to teach one of my teachers the subject, which is good fun.

"At school I'm the senior prefect so I have to delegate rolls to about 40 people and I have to tell them when they're doing what they're meant to be doing. If they don't I have to catch them up. "

The teenager also revealed he is prepared to make tough decisions to achieve his ambitions.

He said: "As accommodating as I am to people's variant abilities I think that ruthlessness is a necessary thing to be able to work in business.

"You need to be able to make the necessary sacrifices. You need to be able to tell people that they are under performing.

"You need to be able to effectively tell the boss, 'this business wasn't working.'"

It remains to be seen whether the plucky youngster will say as much to Sir Alan over the coming weeks.

In next Wednesday's episode (BBC1 at 9pm) the teams must choose two artists to represent at a private art sale.