While on the topic of Education and Studies. Several of my friends who were just about above average in studies have done wonderfully well in their lives. IF their parents had put pressure on them at that stage, they wouldn't have done well in their lives since pressure exerts a tremendous negative influence.
A child who is above average in studies but participates in school activities like debates, essay writing, sports etc is bound to do far better than the typical class first student sans the mentioned extra curricular activities.
A case in point is this. I had been to IIT, Chennai recently. The professor there was mentioning that all the students who cracked IIT through the IIT training institutes, which make them rigorously study for 12 to 13 hours a day to qualify, are all struggling to cope up with IIT standards. Most of them are seeking psychiatric help!
The idea is to let the student enjoy the "student phase", evolve at his own pace, let him know the importance of success, let him learn the topic than mere answers for tests, encourage him to participate in extra curricular activities. That would do him a world of good.