School pupils are being given an extra helping hand to pass their exams - from a managing director himself barely out of the classroom.

Teen whizz kid Chris Mole has set up a collaboration between his PC manufacturing firm Student Desktops and fellow North-East businessman Paul Campbell who operates Amazing Grades.

The pair have created a plan which will give exam candidates access to Amazing Grades, a Channel 4 backed web service, which gives 16-19 year olds access to more than 8,000 study links on 20 subjects. Students will be able to use the service for just £25 a year.

Eighteen-year-old Mr Mole, set up in business selling cut price computers to students and already has a projected turnover for this year of more than £4m.

He said: "Students all over the world are using the Amazing Grades service and finding it is making a big difference in their studies. Amazing Grades has always saved students time. Now thanks to our joint deal it will save them money as well."

Paul Campbell said: "When I heard about Chris and Student Desktops, I recognised we could offer a joint proposition to benefit the many thousands of students using Amazing Grades all over the world."

The deal also enables subscribers to Amazing Grades to benefit from a range of PC's and printers at reduced prices. Pupils interested in finding out more about how they can pass their exams should visit www.channel4.com/amazinggrades. Mr Mole's success story has amazed business minds across the region and beyond. He started his company just 3 days after leaving school in Morpeth, Northumberland. Mr Mole plans to open up a network of shops to complement his student business. Student Desktops is the UK's largest student PC company, operating out of a head office and call centre in Newcastle and a technical support department in Telford. Since launching just 6 months ago Student Desktops has formed a partnership with the National Union of Students, Blackwell's Bookshops and VirginNet. .