The Mascot branch of First Education, a tutoring network originally founded in Maroubra, has been awarded the 2025 Bayside Local Business Award for Outstanding Educational Services, celebrating its commitment to student success and community support across Sydney’s inner south.
From Maroubra Roots to a Network of Learning Centres
First Education was established in 2010 by Maroubra local Harry Mavrolefteros, who started the business in a small space above his family’s optometry practice on Anzac Parade.
The Maroubra centre initially catered to just 10 students, with Mr Mavrolefteros and his brother providing one-on-one tutoring in maths and English. Over the years, the centre gained popularity within the community, prompting expansion into new subjects and attracting more students. The success of the original Maroubra location led to the creation of a tutoring network, now including centres in Earlwood, Bondi, Randwick, and Mascot.
Mascot Centre Wins Bayside Award
The Mascot centre, which opened in July 2021 during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, was awarded the Outstanding Educational Services Award in 2025, marking a first-time recognition for this location.
This honour acknowledges the hard work of the Mascot team, led by Centre Manager Roza Papas, and follows in the footsteps of Maroubra’s foundation of excellence in tutoring. Harry Mavrolefteros attributed the award to his dedicated staff and the families who have trusted *First Education* with their children’s education.
Expanding Services to Meet Community Needs
First Education now serves over 1,000 students across its five centres, offering personalised one-on-one and group tutoring for students from Kindergarten through Year 12. The centres focus on various subjects, with dedicated sessions for Year 12 Higher School Certificate (HSC) preparation. Mavrolefteros, who left a career in financial planning to pursue his passion for education, aims to foster confidence and a love of learning in students, values that he initially instilled at the Maroubra centre and continues to uphold at each location.
As First Education expanded, so did its impact on the local communities it serves. The Maroubra centre’s early reputation led to partnerships with schools such as All Saints Grammar, where after-school tutoring sessions were provided to students. This commitment to educational support and community connection has become the hallmark of First Education, which remains committed to fostering academic growth and personal development in students.
Published 15-Nov-2024