A nine-year-old boy from Four Marks has won his age group in a free online international English language competition.

Riaan Bonnyson Macwan, who attends Four Marks CE Primary School, won the Level 5 award in the British Youth International College’s fifth annual International English Olympiad.

The International English Olympiad focuses on enhancing English language skills and covers reading, listening, writing and all-round comprehension of contemporary and traditional English language texts.

This one-day event, for children aged from five to 15, challenges them to answer 50 age-appropriate questions within a time limit.

Riaan beat thousands of children from across the world to win a trophy and a certificate.

His parents, Bonnyson and Vaibhavi Macwan, said: “Our son is preparing for 11+ exams, and him winning this English competition makes us feel so happy and secure, knowing that he'll for sure thrive in a grammar school. We are proud of our son and grateful for the help of the British Youth International College.”

British Youth International College founder Dr Rashmi Mantri said: “This year’s Olympiad has been our most exciting yet. We continue to see students from every corner of the world demonstrating not only their mastery of English but also their creativity, reasoning and confidence in communication. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness such enthusiasm for learning.

“Our aim has always been to make English learning engaging and accessible. Through our carefully designed challenges and interactive tools, students don’t just learn rules - they learn to love the language. That joy of discovery is what drives our success year after year.

“The global response shows a shared commitment among parents and teachers to equip children with the language skills they’ll need for the future. We’re proud to be part of that journey, helping young minds build the foundations for both academic and personal growth.”