Nine-year-old London Child Prodigy Sets A New Mathematics Record While Some Schools Fail

PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 03, 2008 – Hannah Christian-Rivers (07968285848)

LONDON GIRL SETS A NEW RECORD WHILE SOME SCHOOLS FAIL
Samantha Imafidon, EIE pupil sets a new examination record by becoming the youngest student ever to pass a University of Cambridge Mathematics paper at the tender age of nine.

LONDON, ENGLAND – As the government prepares to publish the official results from last examinations, it has been confirmed that an Excellence in Education (EIE) Elementary school pupil, Samantha O. Imafidon has set an all time record of the being the youngest schoolgirl ever to pass the University of Cambridge Foundations of Advanced Mathematics at the mere age of nine. Samantha, an inner-city public school pupil not only passed the exams at about half the regular age but she achieved grade 'A' - the highest grade possible. In contrast, according to the school performance tables, as large as 20% of high schools did not meet the government's new target for attainment. What shocked the specialists was that Samantha wrote the exams while attending an inner-city public school in Walthamstow, a deprived area of east London and she has never been home-schooled and neither parent is a mathematician.

Earlier, Professor Robert Hunt, Deputy Director of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences and a Fellow of Christ's College, University of Cambridge commenting on the release of the result, said that "It's fantastic to hear of Samantha's achievement in passing Foundations of Advanced Mathematics at the age of just 9. As well as containing lots of fascinating and fun math (maths), this exam is great" Dr Hunt, stated that "I know how important it is for talented youngsters to be given the chance to show what they can really achieve. So congratulations, Samantha!"

Concluding Dr Hunt stated that "Any project that helps gifted children in local public schools to enhance their education is very welcome. Mathematics is a subject which some children latch on to very young - unlike, say, English Literature which requires a deeper emotional maturity - and they should always be encouraged to follow their interests, preferably through enrichment of the school curriculum"

SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT

The number of public high school that achieved government target dropped this year compared to the same time last year. Out of over six hundred and thirty state High schools less than a third of 16 year old students passed five good subjects including English and math, the target set for 2012. Compared with last year, 150 schools performed worse this year than last year.
The tables revealed a marginal increase, that is 46.7% of pupils at the end of their compulsory education attained the equivalent of a grade C or above in five subjects including English and maths. But the average for schools was 41.7 per cent — up 1.6 percentage points from 2006

IMAFIDON AND MATHEMATICS

Samantha Imafidon who is a student of the Excellence in Education (EIE) gifted programme, is also a keen athlete emerging as the second fastest girl in her county during this year's inter school borough competition. Samantha represented her Elementary school in both the relay and sprint event and is known nationally for her academic ability because earlier this year, it was confirmed that she is the youngest pupil ever in Britain to win a scholarship place at very selective high school - St Joseph Covent school in Reading, Berskshire

Samantha set a national record by passing two high school level exams in Mathematics, and Statistics at the age of six and has since compiled her revision notes into a book called 'Mathematics manual' which helped her sibling twins, Peter and Paula also of Excellence in Education to pass High school level Math at six.

Delighted Samantha said "I am very excited at the idea of having a Maths teacher teach Maths, an English teacher teach English and different teachers teaching each subject which is better than at elementary school, where one teacher teaches everything. I'm also looking forward to making lots of new friends in my new school"

Samantha's elder sister, Anne-Marie, is the record holder for the youngest girl ever to pass Associate degree (A-level) exams computing at 11, when she also passed pure math. She went on to study undergraduate math during a summer programme on a scholarship at Johns Hopkins University in the US, aged 13 and her other sibling Christiana is Britain's youngest ever student to undertake undergraduate studies at the age of 11

Hannah Christian-Rivers a spokesperson for the Excellence in Education programme said "We know that Samantha relishes every opportunity to learn and extend their knowledge."

THE END
Excellence in Education (EIE) works with schools, local groups, and charities interested in the educational pursuits of disadvantaged students in inner-cities. Current work is concentrated in Essex, London Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge, Dagenham & Barking, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Lewisham; and EIE also operates in Manchester, Luton, Kent and Essex. EIE is association with Christ Life Church, Deptford Charity no: 1033769 and Clapton Christian Centre Charity no: 1054390. EIE programmes also runs in Manchester, and Luton. Programmes are due to start soon in Reading and Oxford

For pictures & Interviews Call: Hannah Christian-Rivers (07968285848
Press Relation Dept, Excellence in Education (eie) programme
Email: info@excellenceineducation.org.uk
www.excellenceineducation.org.uk