aww poor lad

he needs to just laugh it off, show that he doesn't care

they do change when they're a bit older and kids will accept him as the clever lad he is and be jealous...as they probably are now

Mum my DS1 is 14 and just coming up to the end of Yr9.

He is clever but particularly brilliant at English.

Last year it was a problem and other boys took the mickey, but this year they really seem to have grown up.

They realise that they are nearing their GCSEs and being academic is going to get them further than not being.

Also, friendship groups have changed this year and DS is friendly with girls aand boys who seem to want similar things out of life as he.

Reassure him that it will get better.

I was 'top of the class' most of the time at school, particularly with maths (used to get 100% which guarantees first or first equal) but I did not suffer teasing or abuse. My attitude was always 'well someone has to be first, it just happens to be me'. I was rubbish at sports being small and plumpish but we got house points for academic subjects as well as sports, crafts, etc. so I was a useful points earner for 'the team'.

BTW being a maths genius never did me any good financially. My ability was viewed more like a party trick. Working class girls left school at 15 and went to work end of.

The research slug referred to is described here. So money is a good selling point.

The way I look at it, he and his friends all know that being good at sport, while fun, takes you nowhere (unless you're in elite categories in major sports - unlikely!). And they all know, too, that being good at academic things, especially maths, is the path to all sorts of things they all want. Which is why your ds is going to get hassled. He has what they, ultimately, want.

He should feel sorry for them, practise a good response (I loved the 'I know - great isn't it?' response) and keep his eye on the prize.

Thank you all for the benefit of your experience and constructive ideas.
I've talked it through with him and he "seems" to believe in the long term benefits of his ability. He also concedes that the teasing isn't really nasty just that he's fed up of it.
He's discovered a liking for athletics and DH took him to an athletics club last night which was a great success. Hopefully he'll meet some new people with a shared interest in athletics.

Whatever happens, take time now to sort this. I am very sorry to report that this happened to ds when he first arrived at his new school. As he is allergic to sport and at the autistic end of the normal range (ie rubbish social awareness) it held him back a lot. He placed himself firmly in the middle range and refused to shine or go the extra mile.

It's not the only reason he has underachieved - pathalogical laziness and lack of direction haven't helped - but I do think it was a contributor.

Hi - my son (now at university) was very academic at school. We decided when he was about 12 that he needed to do more sport so that he balanced his time, and got to know a range of children. He signed up for two sports, enjoyed it and now still enjoys academic work and sports as well. It worked for us - so maybe worth a try??

ahhh doesn't really help.. but ds1 had this at about the same age with the same subject.
so I asked him what he did.. and he said he mostly ignored it..and then he punched one of the lads doing it.. and it stopped. .

but.. on a more helpful note.. he can play it down, or he could say " that is cos I is the amaizingist".. which is what ds1 does now.. and all the pupils around laugh!

I assume he'll get streamed soon, and it will be less of a problem.

DS1 says to say to your ds " don't worry mate, chin up and remember your more likey to get a better job.. so when your driving round in your sports car, with your fit girlfriend..and they don't .. then see who it bothers!"

( if that didn't make sense sorry I was typing exactly what ds was telling me to!)

I do think he has to emphasise the long game to them- as in yeah... laugh now, but you losers won't be laughing in 10 years time when I'm doing well for myself, and you're working in <insert local dead-end dump>
Also- it's worth him thinking about the fact that he isn't a swot- he's just clever- and therefore cleverer than them

It is a very tricky one, my DSs school have worked hard to try and get away from that negative thinking that comes from boys-they are making it 'cool to be clever' since DS is now in 6th form I'm not sure how it is working except that my neighbours DS who was 'one of the lads' seems to be buckling down and achieving.
All my friends DSs who have top maths degrees seem to have very good, well paid jobs-I would concentrate on that.