ALASTAIR

Alastair started pre-school the day before his fourth birthday. He had been pestering his mother to learn to write (he had already started teaching himself to read). She finally capitulated, and allowed him to start at School of Today (now known as Glenlee Christian College). Because of his father's work, he was eventually forced to move interstate, but continued with the ACE system (Accelerated Christian Education) until he graduated Year 12. However, his mother, Karen Richards, credits his academic success to the solid start he had in his school life. Alastair is now sixteen, and in his second year at Newcastle University (studying Food Science and Human Nutrition). He is also the youngest-ever New South Wales Scrabble Champion. Mrs Richards believes the school saved her son from the utter boredom he would have experienced in a traditional school setting. He raced through his schooling at the pace which suited him. Alastair was ready, academically, to attend university at fourteen. However, he did not feel mature enough to face university life at that age, so first completed qualifications at TAFE (in Information Technology). The school, and accelerated learning system, gave him a solid foundation in phonics-based Spelling and Maths - which have allowed him to take the Scrabble world by storm. Being part of this school also taught Alastair the importance of valuing his own body - avoiding pollution such as environmental chemicals, plus the importance of exercise and healthy food to allow his brain to function at its best. This aspect of his early schooling had a major influence on his choice of tertiary studies.