A BRAINY schoolboy has become a member of sky-high IQ club Mensa at the age of 12 – despite suffering from autism and dyspraxia.

Lewis Bridgeman, of Maldon, passed Mensa’s tough intelligence test, putting him in the top 2 per cent of the population.

Proud mum Jayne says her son, who goes to the Plume Academy, has an IQ of about 130 - way above the UK average of 107.

“His IQ is high but he struggles with social things like making friends,” she said.

“But the Plume have been brilliant - he’s come on so much.”

Lewis’s conditions can cause anxiety and make him panic, so he stays inside instead of going out to play at break time.

He has high-functioning autism, which means he can do most things but can also find social situations difficult.

Jayne said: “I was told he was going to have a horrible time at secondary school but it’s been quite the opposite – they’ve been amazing.

“He has found confidence in himself and now getting this from Mensa has been fantastic for his confidence because someone thinks he is clever.

“I always knew he was clever, but not to that extent.

“He started talking early and he was very good at maths and figures at a very early age.

“Now we know why we all get beaten by him at quiz games, and how he gets the answers right watching University Challenge.”

Jayne added: “He either wants to be an actor or a drama teacher.

“He is very successful in his drama club and is a different boy when he’s on stage. On Friday he got up in front of 100 people and wasn’t nervous, yet he doesn’t go outside at break time or lunch time.”