A decade of MagiKats in County Durham: Read about some of our success stories!
County Durham Tuition Groups Celebrate 25 Years of Student Success!
An out-of-school tutoring organisation in County Durham has recently celebrated 25 years of student success with over two thousand individuals helped over the years!
The Durham Centre for Education (DCED) was launched in November 1990 by Steve and Lorraine Stephens from Durham City. Lorraine and Steve are highly qualified teachers with decades of experience; both have Post Graduate qualifications in teaching and Steve also holds Specialist Teacher status.
They set up DCED to give extra help to students from ordinary backgrounds to gain the all-important educational skills required to make the very most of their potential - but at an affordable price.
A decade of MagiKats in County Durham
Ten years ago, Lorraine launched the first MagiKats Tuition Centres in the region, offering programmes to develop the skills of students from 4 - 16 of all abilities in maths and English. Weekly workshops still run in Lanchester, Chester-le-Street and Brandon.
Lorraine says:
“Our local schools are very highly regarded and achieve great results but occasionally children just need a little extra individual support in certain subjects and that’s what we provide. Children are routinely tested in schools and some find the prospect very daunting. The MagiKats programme prepares children of all ages to face tests and exams with much more confidence so they can maximise their chances of success.
“Everyone wants their child to achieve the best they can, but education can be a very expensive commodity. It’s been estimated that the average student entering university will leave with a debt of more than £50,000. Private school fees now average over £12,000 per year with the most expensive charging well over £30,000. That’s way out of reach for most, so we offer a workable solution, tailored exactly to meet the needs of the individual student.”
Student Successes!
The Race family with four children, now aged between 25 and 11, has sent each of their children to MagiKats.
Richard Race (25) is now a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and is half way through a Graduate Civil Engineer BSc (hons) degree. He has been both a student and a mentor with MagiKats and says: “The experience has given me the ability to strive for success in my career and personal goals.”
His sister Sophie Race (23), now an Accounts Manager for an American Company, says: “I used the maths skills I learned at MagiKats while at university and now apply them to my commercial role at work.”
David Race (15) is also aiming for university and says: “Going to MagiKats has enabled me to accomplish top marks in maths and English and given me a disciplined work ethic.”
Toni Race (12) enjoys going to MagiKats. She says: “I enjoy MagiKats because everything I’m given is a challenge that I have to achieve if I am to do well in that task”.
Two brothers from another MagiKats family, Edward (9) and William Butcher (14) have both attended MagiKats for several years. Their mother Joan says: “The tuition at MagiKats has given both the boys confidence in their own abilities, to enable them to believe in themselves and succeed. It’s been wonderful to see them achieve and grow in self-confidence as a result.”
Perhaps Edward should have the last word: “I think the workshops are fun and the homework helps me to do well at school.” For Lorraine, that is what MagiKats is all about.