Recently, Shenzhen Merchiston International Schools received official good news from the Pearson Edexcel Examination Board: Hyde, a graduate of the 2025 cohort, has been awarded the 2025 Outstanding Pearson Learner Award by Pearson Edexcel in recognition of his exceptional performance in the 2024/2025 examination series.
As the UK’s largest qualification-awarding body and one of the world’s most influential assessment and certification institutions, Pearson Edexcel is renowned for its rigorous standards and international authority in award selection. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Hyde not only set a new record with A Level Further Mathematics (perfect score of 600, global top score), 597 in A Level Mathematics, and double A* in Physics and Chemistry, but also became the first student from pure British-style international schools in Shenzhen to gain admission to the University of Cambridge’s Department of Mathematics.
Globally, the University of Cambridge’s Department of Mathematics is widely regarded as a "hallmark of excellence" in mathematics education. Statistics show that it attracts tens of thousands of top students worldwide each year. Beyond the strict requirement of multiple A*s in A Levels, applicants must pass the Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP)—an entrance exam far more challenging than regular tests—and demonstrate an extraordinary passion for mathematics and unique analytical thinking during interviews. To date, the department has nurtured giants who shaped the course of human science, such as Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking, and now serves as the alma mater to nearly one-third of the UK’s top mathematicians.
Catching the Spark in Students’ Eyes" – The "Talent Forgers" of Merchiston’s Royal Mile Academy
Hyde’s success in overcoming these layers of challenges is not only a result of his own pursuit of excellence, but also a testament to the educational wisdom of the teaching and management team at the Royal Mile Academy of Shenzhen Merchiston International Schools—a team dedicated to "forging talents with dedication".
Few people know that this student who unlocked the door to Cambridge’s Department of Mathematics once faced setbacks and felt lost in a public school; it was only after switching to the international curriculum and choosing Merchiston that he opened the door to hope.
The Royal Mile Academy’s "recognition" of Hyde began as early as his entrance exam. When faced with tricky questions that left other students struggling, Hyde’s eyes lit up with excitement as he focused on solving them—a detail that Dean Kurt (Gao Xu) kept firmly in mind.
With 22 years of educational experience and having guided hundreds of students into Oxford, Cambridge, and G5 universities, Dean Kurt has led his team to build an admission process that closely mirrors the selection logic of Oxford and Cambridge. This process places greater emphasis on "subject potential" and "depth of passion" rather than just grades.
"That eager spark for mathematics is the core trait of students admitted to Oxford and Cambridge," recalled Dean Kurt. As an experienced "talent forger", he immediately recognized this "perfection within imperfection".
Tailored "Growth Path": From "STEM Specialist" to Cambridge Prospective Student
It is often said that "geniuses are common, but those who recognize them are rare". For Hyde, the teachers at the Royal Mile Academy were not just "talent spotters", but also "polishers" who helped him "remove the rust" and shine. The teaching team stood by his side at every step—from his enrollment to his admission to Cambridge.
"You don’t need to be good at everything; you just need to become a better version of yourself." This was the positioning given to Hyde by Caitlyn, Academic Director of the Royal Mile Academy. With nearly a decade of frontline teaching experience and having guided many students into Oxford and Cambridge, Caitlyn quickly identified Hyde’s "STEM talent" and designed an optimal path for him as a "STEM specialist".
"If there’s no time for competitions, then aim for the highest possible sub-scores in A Level A*s, and achieve top results in TMUA and STEP." This was the "sprint strategy" developed for Hyde by Emily and Nanfan, mathematics teachers at the Royal Mile Academy.
Faced with the "challenge" of the STEP exam, the two teachers worked with Hyde to break down each question step by step. Eventually, Hyde passed the "core threshold" for Cambridge’s Mathematics Department with a perfect score of 9 in the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA), a grade S (top tier) in STEP 2, and a grade 1 in STEP 3.
Beyond academic guidance, the moral education team at the Royal Mile Academy also served as Hyde’s "psychological mentors", building a bridge between him and his family with their educational philosophy of "nurturing love with love".
When Cambridge University sent the interview invitation, the university guidance counselors helped Hyde research the interviewers’ backgrounds on the official website, read through the interviewers’ academic works, and conducted thorough background checks—all to ease his anxiety about "facing top professors".
On the night before the interview, Hyde still felt nervous and went to Dean Kurt for encouragement. Instead of asking him to cram for exercises, Dean Kurt recommended that he watch the movies Interstellar and Tenet: "Using the scientific thinking in Nolan’s films to expand your perspective is more helpful for answering flexible interview questions than just doing more exercises."
This "calm, essence-focused" guidance stems from Dean Kurt’s educational philosophy of "laying solid foundations and progressing steadily": prioritizing long-term growth over short-term grades, and using "eyes that see beauty" to recognize the uniqueness of each student.
As he commented on Hyde: "He is not a 'perfect student' in the traditional sense, but a rare 'science geek'—our job is to protect this passion and help him turn his strengths into a key to top universities."
During this year’s National Day holiday, Dean Kurt made a special trip to the UK to visit Merchiston graduates studying at the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and other institutions. By then, Hyde—once a shy "introvert"—had grown into a "resilient introvert" who actively shared stories about Cambridge’s "unconventional cafeteria food" and interesting classroom anecdotes. Dean Kurt was deeply relieved to see how well Hyde had integrated into his new environment.
The "Nurturing Secret" of the Royal Mile Academy: Making Every Student a "Unique Shining Star"
Hyde’s transformation is no accident. The educational logic of the Royal Mile Academy at Shenzhen Merchiston International Schools has always centered on "personalization" and "precision":
Selection focuses on "traits" rather than "scores": It values "hidden potential" such as students’ attitude towards challenges and passion for subjects, rather than just academic performance.
Tailored curriculum design: Adjust subject combinations based on students’ interests and strengths—for STEM-focused students like Hyde, this means the freedom to deepen their focus on coresubjects.
Precise support for "final admission sprint": Provide full-process personalized guidance, from academic background research for Oxford/Cambridge interviews, to mental state adjustment, and critical thinking development.
This dedication to education is also reflected in the 2025 university admission results of Shenzhen Merchiston: the 26 graduates delivered an impressive performance in the highly competitive top university admissions:
Top-tier university cohort: Secured 1 offer from the University of Cambridge, solidifying its position in the Oxford-Cambridge admission track.
UK G5 cohort: Obtained 25 offers from the UK’s elite G5 universities—including Imperial College London (QS World University Rankings #2), London School of Economics and Political Science (a cradle of global political and business elites), and University College London (QS World University Rankings #9)—achieving the remarkable feat of "an average of one G5 offer per graduate".
Shenzhen Merchiston International Schools has proven through its educational practice that good education is not about shaping students into uniform "models of excellence". Instead, it is about being a "talent spotter" and "talent forger", helping every child find their unique path to shine.
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