Dee Alli Reignites Hothousing Debate As She Studies A-Level Maths, Aged Six

Hothousing - Reward Or Punishment For Gifted Students?

Dee Alli, the six-year-old studying A-level maths, is the latest child genius to make "hothousing" a hot topic.

The schoolgirl earned a place in history last year after she became the youngest child to pass a maths GCSE and looks set to have a bright future. Dee attends Wyborne Primary School, Greenwich, with other children her age but also studies at the Excellence in Education Centre which is based in London.

The hothousing accusation has long been fired at schools and tutoring centres alike, as examination boards continue report an increase in students taking exams early.

According to the Joint Council for Qualifications, last year more than 80,000 - 11 per cent of maths GCSE entries - were taken by students at least 12 months early.

A spokesperson for the education centre said: "We don't force children into doing anything they don't want to do. They are all at the centre because they enjoy what they're doing. We mentor children of all ages, we don't "hothouse" them."

The centre currently tutors 600 children who the centre insist are "just ordinary kids".

Two of the centre's other pupils, twins Paula and Peter Imafidon, became two of the youngest students to pass their A-level ICT exam. The 11-year-olds both achieved an E grade. They have already passed GCSE maths, aged six, AS maths, aged seven, and their sister Samantha passed the ICT A-level with a D grade.

The twins' father, Chris Imafidon said: "We are very proud of our children and their achievements. We believe when educating children we need to follow their lead and their interests."

He has previously called for schools to give every child the opportunity to attempt GCSE Maths at least one year ahead of the current set time as he believes "most children will enjoy it" if difficult mathematical concepts are introduced earlier.

But Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University said: "Some children are born extremely gifted and it is right parents should recognise this and provide the opportunity for these children to develop their talents. But they do sometimes put too much pressure on their children.

"There have been incidents of young maths geniuses going off the rails because they have been pushed too hard. I remember there was one girl who went to Oxford but ended up working as a prostitute."

The girl in question was Sufiah Yusof who gained a place at Oxford University when she was 13. In 2008, a Sunday paper revealed she had assumed the working name of Shilpa Lee and was selling herself on the streets of Manchester.

Although other talented children have become successful professionals, Smithers warned against pushing youngsters too hard, too soon. He added: "There is a natural grain of development in most children and some develop faster than others. Although it is important to encourage and nurture these individuals, if you try and push children there can be harmful effects.

"I know a lot of speech therapists who deal with children who have retreated into a shell because they have been pushed too hard."

William, a pupil at the Oratory school in Oxfordshire, is waiting to find out his exam results after he took GCSE maths and IT a year early. The 15-year-old said the independent boarding school put all pupils in year 10 forward for the exams, also encouraging students to sit religious studies and geography GCSEs prematurely.

"It's good because we get them out the way but I feel I would have done a lot better if I had taken them next year."

The Press Association reported a six-year-old girl passed her GCSE maths today.

"Deborah Thorpe takes extra lessons on Saturdays and is not allowed to watch television after school from Monday to Thursday so that she concentrates on her studies. She turned six last month and so was only five when she actually sat her GCSE, an exam normally taken by 16-year-olds."

The report quotes her father Charles Thorpe, 44, from Chadwell Heath, east London, who said: "We thought we might as well just give it a go. You see young people in the newspapers who have taken exams and you think, why not?

"When she says she wants to be a doctor I tell her that she must be very good at science and maths. We want her to be outstanding and exceptional in every way. I wouldn't say that she is too young. The younger generations are taking over now."

Deborah, who achieved an E grade in her GCSE, said she is not sure if she wants to take any more exams next year but wants to become a doctor when she grows up.

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