“Futures Filled With Success”: Cape Town Reddam Top Matric Achiever Shares Cambridge and MIT Dreams
- Youkyum Kim from Reddam House Durbanville achieved a 93.4% average and completed A Level Mathematics with 98%
- The top achiever has applied to Cambridge University and MIT and intends to study Mathematics after accelerating his subject
- Two students at the school achieved a rare 100% for AS Level Mathematics, with 76 students attaining 149 subject distinctions
- Briefly News spoke to the Top achievers and the Executive Head of Reddam House Durbanville on their outstanding performances
Source: Original
A Cape Town school is celebrating excellent Cambridge International AS and A Level results, with one top achiever setting his sights on studying at prestigious universities abroad. Reddam House Durbanville in Durbanville shared its 2025 Cambridge International AS and A Level results on 15 January 2026, showing strong academic performance and hard work from students.
In 2025, 76 students sat the Cambridge International AS Level examinations and attained 149 subject distinctions, with an overall average grade of 73%. A strong 64.5% of students achieved an A or B aggregate, including 38% who achieved an A aggregate.
Leading the group is Youkyum Kim, who achieved a 93.4% average and completed A Level Mathematics with 98%. Youkyum accelerated his Mathematics to A Level in 2025 to complete another two A Level subjects in mid-2026. He has applied to Cambridge University and MIT and intends to study Mathematics.
When asked how it feels to have applied to Cambridge University and MIT and what he's most excited about, Youkyum responded, saying:
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"I'm quite proud to have applied to such prestigious universities, and I am most excited to meet other talented students abroad and study mathematics with them."
When it came to what advice he would give to other students aiming for top universities abroad, he shared:
"Besides having good grades and doing other competitions/extracurriculars, I think you should also have a close look at what the universities require for their courses and chat to current students there beforehand to get a good sense of what you need to prepare."
Students achieve a rare 100% for Maths
Karli Kennard achieved a 92.2% average and is one of two students who achieved 100% for AS Level Mathematics. She has been conditionally accepted to study Actuarial Science at two Western Cape universities, with Stellenbosch University as her preferred option. Mia Ivan achieved a 91.8% average and, like Karli, achieved 100% for AS Level Mathematics. She has applied to study Chemical Engineering and has received conditional offers from two universities.
When asked how she felt about achieving 100% for Mathematics and what the key was, Mia Ivan responded, saying:
"I was elated when I found out that I received a perfect score, as that has been a goal of mine since before my IGCSE finals. I am prone to making silly mistakes when writing Maths, so the fact that I was able to achieve 100% for Mathematics at an AS level made the accomplishment feel that much greater."
She explained that she would not have been able to obtain a perfect score without her incredible AS Mathematics teacher, who was imperative in building a strong foundation; however, Mia believes that consistent practice is the key to obtaining a perfect score. Daily past paper practice, as well as doing textbook activities, were crucial in her success.
Karli Kennard shared:
"I was certainly stunned, but mostly grateful that all the work I put in had paid off! I had silently set the goal for myself, but definitely didn't expect to actually get the full mark. That's just it, setting ambitious goals whilst staying realistic was one of the key factors to achieving what I hoped."
She mentioned that the other biggest contributor was her absolute love for numbers combined with practice, practice, practice, which allowed her to put in the hours and enjoy herself at the same time.
Other top-performing students from Reddam House Durbanville include Lucas Louw (90.3%), Jade Cameron (90.2%), Rita de Wet (89.0%), Misa von Wielligh (88.8%), Logan Pereira (88.6%), Lucy Nurton (86.8%) and Mia Rothuysen (86.6%). Reddam House Durbanville AS Level students achieved group averages of 70% and above in subjects like Accounting (84.3%), Art and Design (83.7%), Mathematics (81.4%), Afrikaans (81.3%), Computer Science (78.4%), and more.
The seven A Level students achieved a 73% aggregate average, with Jana Smit achieving an A aggregate for her A Level results. Jana completed English Language, English Literature and History, achieving an 82.3% aggregate average. She has been conditionally accepted to study for an LLB. Ethan Webber wrote A Level Mathematics in preparation for the Actuarial Science degree he plans to complete at UCT, achieving an impressive 83%.
Barry Nieuwoudt, Executive Head of Reddam House Durbanville, said the results reflect the dedication of students and the steadfast commitment of staff.
When asked about the teaching methods and support systems that help students achieve such outstanding results, Barry Nieuwoudt explained that the school's success doesn't come from one specific teaching method, but from a careful and steady approach to education built up over many years. He said the main factor is the quality of their teachers, noting:
"We hire the best subject experts and, just as importantly, we keep them."
This means staff know the curriculum inside out and share the same vision of excellence in each subject.
He added that their teaching is organised and purposeful, with a heavy focus on getting the basics right before moving to more complex work. In Mathematics, this means being precise, understanding deeply, and regularly working through challenging problems. Support systems are built into daily teaching rather than added as extras, with teachers watching student progress closely and acting quickly with focused help. He noted that the school has a strong culture of high standards, saying:
"Students understand that excellence is normal here, not exceptional. When that culture is combined with expert teaching, experienced staff and a curriculum delivered with clarity and consistency, outcomes such as 100% Mathematics results become achievable rather than accidental."
Source: Original
What are Cambridge International exams?
Reddam House Durbanville offers the Cambridge International AS and A Levels alongside the South African IEB curriculum, giving students more choice and flexibility in how they study. This means learners can earn an internationally recognised qualification while still being part of a local school system, which helps open doors to top universities in South Africa and abroad.
Source: Original
Other top matric achievers in South Africa
- Briefly News recently reported on Mpumalanga's top matric learner, who was rewarded with a brand-new car and financial support.
- Two brothers from the Bongwe family went viral after both achieving outstanding matric results.
- Siza Gule matriculated with 9 distinctions and earned a Harvard scholarship, crediting drama for helping him overcome his stutter and develop life skills.
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Source: Briefly News
