Top PEP Boy Confident and Focused

Twelve-year-old Myles Whittingham of Montego Bay Christian Academy (MBCA) earned the distinction of being Jamaica’s top-performing boy in the 2025 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination.

But to Myles, PEP was not an insurmountable challenge; it was “manageable”.

When asked how he juggled academics with a busy extracurricular life that included football, chess, karate, quiz and boys’ club, he told JIS News: “I prioritised my responsibilities by doing my homework and schoolwork first.”

The Valedictorian and honour roll student’s favourite subject is Mathematics, while his least favourite is Language Arts.

“I’m good at working with numbers and solving equations. When I have to write the essays, it’s very subjective because there’s really no wrong or right answer. It’s just how well you write it,” he explained.

“My teachers helped to prepare me for the exams and they gave me the right knowledge to do well. My family helped to encourage me and guide me through the stressful moments of studying, and my friends helped me to relax and not stay focused on one thing too much,” Myles said.

Myles chose Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay, the same school his two older brothers attend, as his first choice.

“I was happy when I got into Herbert, and when I was told that I got really good PEP results, I was also very happy. It’s an honour being the top PEP boy,” he shared.

Myles hopes to inspire other students, especially those at MBCA, to do as well as he did. He is undecided about the career path he will take.

“As I go through high school, I’m going to be exposed to more jobs and careers, so I hope I can decide by that time,” he said.

His parents, Serena Lue-Whittingham and Maurice Whittingham, recalled beaming with pride on the day the results were released.

“We knew he was going to do well because he’s pretty determined and focused and he always makes sure that the work is done before anything else. There are a lot of capable and bright students all throughout the island, so we weren’t necessarily thinking top, but definitely in the top 10. When we heard he got top PEP boy, we were extremely excited and so happy for him,” Serena shared.

Recounting their conversation after the first set of PEP exams, his father said he knew Myles would do well.

Myles had said that the exam was easy, but his father urged him to tailor his response.

He took heed and his usual response became: “It was not challenging as I thought it would be”.

“He was reassuring us from before that he knew he felt good about the results, but I was very surprised when he took the top boy. Wow! That is an achievement. He has turned us into celebrities. Everywhere I turn I hear congratulations,” Mr. Whittingham  said.

The Whittinghams took a gentle approach to the high-stakes examination season.

“We didn’t pressure him,” his mother explained, adding that he only attended Saturday classes.

She underscored that what was important from the beginning was a good foundation – discipline, focus and understanding priorities.

It helped that Myles has two older brothers who also set strong academic examples.

“He is a leader himself. He has a younger brother who is still at Montego Bay Christian Academy and when he gets home, if Mase even slacks off a little bit or Mase is not attentive, he calls me and says, ‘Daddy, Mase hasn’t done his homework yet’ and I’m like ‘Chill out! I’m the parent’,” Mr. Whittingham shared.

Principal, Renee Winkler, expressed glowing praise for Myles, who is the first student from Montego Bay Christian Academy to earn the title.

“He has always been an exceptional student, so we were not surprised. He has always done well and he’s always been very balanced and very thorough,” Mrs. Winkler said.

She shared that his grades five and six teachers were often amazed at his academic prowess, noting that he ended grade six with a 99 per cent average.

“His academics has always been top-notch and he’s always been very intentional in his learning. He has wonderful support from his family,” Mrs. Winkler added.

Myles’ parents also credited his success to his deep abiding faith in God.

His mother shared that Myles prayed with them before each exam, asking for God’s blessings and grace to see him through successfully.

“The school is amazing – God-blessed. When I drive my boys to school every morning, they’re reciting their scriptures. It’s a blessing in the car,” Mr. Whittingham said, citing the Christian education offered at MBCA.