Breaking New Ground: meet Aeshan, the First UK KUMON CONNECT Completer

When Aeshan first joined Kumon at the Edinburgh, Corstorphine Study Centre, with Instructor Kanika Paterson, he wasn’t sure how far he could go. Today, he is proud to be a Kumon Completer – a milestone that only a small number of students reach.

His journey to completing the Kumon Maths Programme wasn’t straightforward. His family had first heard of Kumon while living in the United States but were not able to join at that time. Then, after moving between India and the US, before finally settling in Scotland in 2016, Aeshan’s parents believed it was too late for him to start Kumon. Some years later, through a friend’s recommendation and introduction, they came to know Kumon Instructor, Kanika, who welcomed the then 14-year-old Aeshan to her vibrant Kumon study centre.

Reflecting on his early days, Aeshan recalls:

“At first, I focused only on accuracy - I spent too long on each set of work and made slow progress. I grew tired and wasn’t really enjoying spending so long on my work. Then Kanika sat me down and explained why she was setting me some basic and easy work and making me do corrections. She told me that she saw the ability in me, but that I wasn’t focusing or working with pace and energy. She was pretty honest and open with me.

“She told me, ‘Aeshan, I know you can do better – I expect more of you, and it’s within your control. You can achieve more and can study better.’

“That really triggered something in me. From that point, we worked together to set a plan to reach Level G before the new year, and I set myself some targets and I pushed forward.”

And push forward he did! So determined was Aeshan that, during one school holiday, he set a target to complete a level in just 10 days by doing three sets of 10 worksheets every day. His determination saw him accelerate rapidly through the programme, moving “from travelling on a bus to flying the plane”, as his father Rajesh proudly describes it.

His parents also played a vital role in guiding him. They struck a balance between giving him independence and setting high expectations. Rajesh explains:

“We don’t need to tell him to study – sometimes we even tell him not to study and work on his other interests! But we also believe children thrive with structure and discipline. That’s where Kumon really helped, because the teaching style gives freedom while also holding students accountable.”

For Aeshan, this mix of encouragement and challenge made all the difference.

“Before Kumon, I would have said I was average at maths. Kumon helped me discover my abilities and gave me the discipline to keep improving. I have developed the skills in how to study for myself. Now, I don’t just passively learn – I retain knowledge, so I don’t need to revise as much for exams.”

Having experienced the cultural differences and approach to education systems in the States, India and Scotland, one of the biggest benefits, according to his father, is Kumon’s international content. Unlike school systems that stick closely to a national curriculum, Kumon gives children the chance to work on maths topics and content that transcend borders and allows them to advance way ahead of their peers. Rajesh reflects:

“In the future he’s not just going to be competing with his classmates in Scotland. He knows that in the world of work, one day he’ll be competing with the whole world – in India, the US, everywhere. Kumon’s maths programme gives him that broad foundation and the self-determination to set his sights high.”

Aeshan also stands out for being the first student in the UK to complete his entire Kumon Maths Programme on a tablet through KUMON CONNECT. He found the digital format gave him speed and flexibility:

“I actually tried both paper and tablet, but I loved doing my study on the tablet. The marking of my work came back overnight, so I could complete my corrections quickly. I could make faster progress, and I could even study on flights or while travelling to visit family in India. It really helped me keep up my momentum.”

Kanika’s approach as an Instructor was equally important. Rajesh describes her as “a teacher who knows when to encourage gently and when to challenge firmly.” That balance helped Aeshan stay motivated and realise what he was capable of.

Alongside completing Kumon Maths, Aeshan has achieved top results at school, even completing his Highers in maths a year early. He is now working towards his Advanced Highers and aims to study Artificial Intelligence and data science in the United States. Outside of academics, he enjoys coding, guitar, tennis, and even supports younger students at the Kumon Centre as a role model and Classroom Assistant.

Kanika, his Instructor, also reflects with pride on Aeshan’s journey:

“It has been a pleasure to work with Aeshan and to be able to inspire him. Now, having him in the centre to support other students is wonderful. He is now even in the process of developing an app for my centres, aimed at enhancing our communication with families. I was on the verge of subscribing to an external platform when Aeshan told me he could create a similar app himself - and he could tailor it to our specific Kumon requirements. This app will feature centre timings, a private chat function, and more! What makes me especially proud is that he is giving back to Kumon and using his skills and expertise."

Looking back, his family says the decision to join Kumon came later than for many children, but at exactly the right time for him. Rajesh sums it up best:

“There is no perfect time to join Kumon. It builds foundations, independence, and an attitude of always striving to be your best, so I think it suits all children.”

For Aeshan, becoming a Kumon Completer is more than a certificate – it’s proof of his resilience, discipline, and ambition. As one of the first students to complete entirely on a tablet, his success also shows how Kumon is preparing students for the future.