Meet the students

Press Release - March 2010

Outstanding Biggin Hill children go above and beyond in maths and English

Two exceptional students from our study centre have completed the entire Kumon maths and English study programmes, thereby joining an elite group of children in the UK. Alaina Lewis, 16, completed the maths programme in January of this year and Peter Koritsas, 11, the English programme in February. Both have been working ahead of their school level for many years, and are gold awardees on Kumon's advanced student roll.

Alaina's interest in maths began at a very young age, when her mother would write out sums for her to do at home. She started Kumon whilst in primary school, as she was not being sufficiently challenged by maths lessons. Since then, Alaina has developed independent learning skills, setting her own Kumon work and pushing herself to achieve high goals whilst adjusting the load to fit in with school and GCSE work.

She says: "After studying Kumon for a while I was given increasing confidence as I was ahead of the work at school and could understand the new topics which we covered. The independent learning scheme that Kumon encourages enabled me to have a more methodical approach to all of my work at school, and still applies to me now when learning anything new as I am more likely to attempt to solve the problem by myself rather than immediately turning for help.
 

"After reaching a certain stage in the programme where I was a great deal ahead of my school work, it was no longer the achievement of being ahead that encouraged me to carry on but instead the challenge of being able to complete the programme. I am proud of this achievement and feel Kumon has given me skills which I will be able to carry through life with me."
 

Alaina plans to read maths at university.

Peter Koritsas has also achieved a huge increase in confidence as well as grades at school since he started Kumon's English programme. His mother Aileen says: "We are extremely pleased with the results obtained by Peter from Kumon in English, which we feel has enabled him to obtain consistently high marks in his primary and current school. Probably the most lasting effect for the future will be his interest in books well beyond his years that he is able to read, understand and enjoy."

Sue Peters has been the Biggin Hill Kumon Instructor since she took over the centre in 2003. She is enormously proud of both her students:

"Alaina is a true self learner and has not required any help since Level I (factorisation, quadratic functions and Pythagoras), 4 years ago. She is now a valued member of my team of assistants in class and brings her confidence as well as understanding of maths to helping students. Peter joined us when he was five years old; he has always worked hard and within a year was working at an advanced level for his age. He achieved Gold status over two years ago and has continued his diligent work smoothly through his transition to Secondary school."