When second-year Maths A Level students at MidKent College needed extra help with revision, they knew who to turn to. The first-year student who they watched help his fellow first years with theirs.
What none of them realised was that their new Maths mentor had faced challenges to even be in college, let alone be described by his tutor as one of the top mathematicians he’s seen in his career.
Seventeen-year-old Edmund Zverovitch joined the Year 10 A Level course from Elective Home Education (EHE). This provision enables students who are home educated to achieve their GCSE qualifications through remote teaching alongside termly onsite lessons.
Edmund’s teacher, Thomas Payne, himself an Oxford University Maths alumnus, describes him as a very talented student. “Out of all the students I have taught in the last ten years, he would be in the Top 3. Edmund has natural ability, always getting the answer right, and taking a very short time to understand a new topic. While helping his own classmates with revision, second years noticed and asked him for help too – which he has undertaken in his spare time.”
Mr Paynes says Edmund is highly committed to his education and puts in ‘vast amounts’ of extra work and is currently teaching himself Further Maths alongside his other A Levels of Physics and Chemistry. His recent mock examination marks are ‘remarkable’.
Initially reserved, Edmund has now become a leader among his peers for his understanding of Maths, and ability and willingness to share with others. Since beginning his A Levels, Edmund’s confidence has grown significantly. He has developed from a quiet student who struggled to communicate with tutors and peers into a confident and engaged learner who now actively contributes in lessons and supports fellow students with their studies.
Edmund's confidence in lessons and group work has been supported significantly by the pastoral care provided within the EHE department. It is a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for students, both online and during on-site sessions. Consistency is a key part of the MidKent College approach, and students benefit from regular one-to-one meetings, which help to build trust and provide ongoing support.
EHE Liaison Officer, Julia Brundish said: “There is considerable increase in confidence and independence as students progress through Year 11, and this development frequently continues as they move into post-16 education. In Edmund's case, the transition has been particularly smooth because the EHE and A Level provision sit within the same department.
“The continuity of pastoral support, along with familiar tutors who teach across both the GCSE and A Level programmes, helped him to grow in confidence. Edmund's own maturity, determination, and personal development have also played an important role in this progress. He has shown resilience, commitment to learning and personal growth. Edmund is a fantastic example of how, with the right support and determination, home-educated students can thrive and achieve exceptional outcomes.”
Students are offered relevant and industry-related projects in lieu of meaningful work experience, which A-level students often struggle to get. Asked to design an algorithm to suggest what to watch next on a Netflix type scenario, Edmund went far beyond the suggested outcome using only basic data. He went straight to using Further Maths and created an entire website with extended development within it.
