The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Struggling Dundee pupil has become school dux
Remarkable turnaround for teenager who failed his fourth year maths tests and will now study astrophysics
A Dundee teenager who failed his fourth year maths tests performed a miraculous turnaround to become school dux and study astrophysics at university.
John Gardiner, 18, struggled in the subject, scoring just 13% in one test.
Just over two years later he has graduated from Dundee High School with six A-grade Highers and Advanced Highers and a clutch of prizes, including the Harris Gold Medal for Dux of School.
John, who lives in the city’s West End, is now about to start a course at Edinburgh University which could lead him into a career with the likes of Nasa.
His performance was described as outstanding by his former rector, and stunned his parents Derek and Evelyn.
Derek said: “If you told us this twoand-a-half years ago we wouldn’t have believed you. It’s been a remarkable turnaround.”
After learning at a parents’ night that John was under-performing in maths, his parents tried to steer him towards other subjects he was better at, such as art and history.
But John was determined and they hired a tutor, which commercial manager Derek said was a turning point.
He also developed a good relationship with his school maths teacher and began testing himself with past papers.
Shortly after scraping through his National 5 maths prelim John excelled in the real exam, scoring 96% and earning the prize for most improved student.
Derek said: “The head of maths wrote in his report at the end of that year that the level of improvement was unprecedented to his knowledge at the school.”
In his fifth form maths prelim John scored 99% – putting the 1% error down to a “stupid mistake” – and ended the year with three A-grade Highers and a B.
He added three band one As in Advanced Higher maths, physics and mathematics of mechanics to his impressive list of qualifications in his final year.
Derek said: “It is an utterly fantastic achievement, it really is unbelievable from where he had come from.
“The high school needs to take credit for this, he wouldn’t have been able to do it at any other school.”
Derek said John had “inner strength and determination” and had always had an interest in maths and physics.