Millfield celebrates student achievements in an extraordinary results year

Pictured left to right: Millfield students Oliver Burnett, Jasper Williams, Max French, Saskia Portman and Diketso and Khumo Karas

Millfield students are celebrating their achievements today following an extraordinary year with no public summer exams.

Against a backdrop of downgraded results nationally, Millfield students have seen a significant rise in those attaining the highest grades. (2019 30% of AL grades were A* or A, 2020 34%)

At Millfield, 99% of grades are as assessed by the school or one grade different compared to 97% at other schools across the UK (according to the government), meaning that Millfield has seen significantly less variation than will be the case at schools across the country.

Exceptional individual achievements include:

Top achievers Vilem Horak and Lucie Gonder have achieved outstanding results. Vilem achieved four A*s in Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Mathematics and Physics. While at Millfield, Vilem was a key member of the Triathlon team. Vilem was also involved in the maths group Pi Shop and gave an impressive extended lecture introducing other students to the complex ideas from the book Godel, Escher, Bach, and was also head of the Eco Committee. He is currently working in Norway with his brother as a guide for canyoning activities.

Vilem says, “I am really happy that the teachers believed in me and gave me the grades they felt I deserved. I’ve always been a keen triathlete and love maths and I wanted to find a school where I could do both at a high level and Millfield was the only place in the world where I found this, where I could train in my sport alongside a high standard of academics. At Millfield I enjoyed always being busy either training or being in lessons in school. The coaches are great, we had a new triathlon coach join the school this year and the facilities are wonderful.”

Vilem will now go on to study Mathematics at the University of Warwick and would like to pursue a career in an environmental field.

Lucie Gonder received D*D*D* in BTEC Art and Design alongside an A* in A level Product Design. While at Millfield, Lucie was a Prefect and earned her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

According to Millfield Headmaster Gavin Horgan, the style of teaching at Millfield has “unlocked Lucie’s potential”, as well as giving the model student the confidence to pursue design after her previous school overlooked her creative potential. Lucie said Millfield’s Careers Department succeeded in giving her perspective on creative career options for university and beyond, something that her previous school could not do.

Lucie has also been outspoken about balancing her intensive studies whilst having severe dyslexia, saying: “I chose to study at Millfield because I felt that the school could support me in my desire for independence, it has helped build my self-confidence and, in a way, forget my disability. The result was that my dyslexic-based methodology became the foundation for my approach to Art and Design. I would like to thank all my teachers for not simply teaching a course, but tailor-making projects to bring out the best in my ability and keep the course sufficiently challenging.”

Lucie will attend Central St Martins to study Product and Industrial Design. She said she was over the moon with her results and commented: “I am totally delighted to share this position with Vilem, who is so talented.” 

Max French achieved three A*s in Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics and an A in Spanish. Max, who also attended Millfield Prep, was Head of School for the Summer Term, achieved his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, played hockey and represented England at World and European Championships for chess. Max will now be studying Mathematics at the University of Oxford.

Diketso Karas achieved three A*s in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics and an A in Further Mathematics. While at Millfield, Diketso was Head Girl for the Autumn Term, and was a key member of the 1st XI hockey squad. Khumo Karas, Dikesto’s twin, achieved two A*s in Biology and Mathmatics and an A in Chemistry. While at Millfield, Khumo achieved grade eight in flute and also played hockey. The sisters will now study at Imperial College London, with Diketso undertaking Chemical Engineering and Khumo reading Medicine.

Benjamin Hoskings achieved an A* in Mathematics and three As in Chemistry, Further Mathematics and Physics. Benjamin attended Millfield Prep, and while at Millfield was captain of the ski team. He will now study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Warwick.

YiRen Liang achieved an A* in Mathematics, two As in Physics and Computer Science and a B in Further Mathematics. While at Millfield, YiRen played basketball, and he will now study Computer Science at King's College London, University of London.

Omar Khaled El Dokani achieved three As in Business, French and Spanish and a B in Economics. Omar Khaled El Dokani has been named as one of the youngest CEOs in the world after founding and establishing his own professional networking company, InterJoin, which is currently valued at 3.75 million USD. Omar began the process of developing Interjoin while at Millfield. Omar is now planning to take some time away from education to focus on the growth of the company. InterJoin is planned to officially launch in early 2021. 

Samuel Krolikowski achieved three A*s in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. Sam, who is on the autistic spectrum (Asperger’s), has overcome immeasurable challenges as a result of his diagnosis but has found the support from Millfield’s specialised LSC department to be vital in gaining his dream place at university. The eighteen-year-old wants to show other young people that having Additional Educational Needs (AEN) doesn’t mean you can’t be ‘brilliant’ and succeed academically. He will now attend Queen Mary University of London to study Medicine.

Freya Platts Costeloe achieved three A*s in Fine Art, Biology and Psychology. While at Millfield, Freya was Head Girl for the Spring Term, Head of House and took part in squash. She will now study Human Sciences at UCL (University College London).

Mila Nikcevic achieved D*D*D in BTEC Art and Design. While at Millfield, Mila took part in dance and has an offer to attend the University of Westminster, London to study Fashion Design.

Saskia Portman from Bristol achieved two A*s in Economics and Mathematics and a D1 (the highest grade possible) in Pre-U History. While at Millfield, Saskia was shortlisted in the prestigious John Locke Institute Essay competition and played netball. She will now attend UCL (University College London) to study History, Politics and Economics.

Alistair Atkinson achieved two A*s in Politics and Geography and a D3 in Pre-U History. While at Millfield, Alex played football and will now study International Relations at University of Leeds.

Kiera Jade Bainsfair achieved two A*s in English Literature and Economics and a D3 in Pre-U History. While at Millfield, Kiera was a keen member of the athletics team and was the only Millfield student to ever enter the HART Prize for Human Rights; she was shortlisted for her essay on Syria. Kiera will now study History at Durham University.

James George achieved two A*s in Mathematics and Physics and an A in Further Mathematics. While at Millfield, James was a crucial part of the Millfield Hockey team as 1st XI goalkeeper. James will now go on to study Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London.

Charles Kelleway achieved two A*s in Mathematics and Economics and an A in Politics. While at Millfield, Charles was a key member of the senior rugby team and Charles will now study Philosophy, Politics and Economics BSc at UCL (University College London).

Oscar Plant achieved two A*s in Computer Science and Mathematics and one A in Further Mathematics. Oscar has attended Millfield since 2006, beginning at Millfield Pre-Prep and while at the school was a keen fencer. He will now study Mathematics at University of Exeter.

Benjamin Shaw from Street achieved two A*s in Mathematics and Economics and an A Further Mathematics. While at Millfield, Benjamin was an integral member of the XI hockey team, and will now study Economics at University of Bath.

Alexandre D'Arenberg achieved D*D in BTEC Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and an A in A level Design & Technology: Product Design. While at Millfield, Alexandre was a keen football player. He now plans to attend the University of Warwick to study Management.

Selin Demirolcen achieved D*DD in BTEC Art and Design. While at Millfield, Selin played netball, did trampolining and spinning. Selin will now go on to study Fashion Styling and Creative Direction (Sandwich) at the Istituto Marangoni, London.

Millfield Headmaster Gavin Horgan says, “The wait and uncertainty around the awarding of grades this year has been really difficulty for all students, parents and staff alike. As every year, we celebrate everyone’s achievements, whether that be all A* grades and a place at a prestigious university or whether a student’s educational journey has led them on to discover a brilliance and a passion in a particular field that they now know they want to pursue. We wish all of our students the best on the next stage in their lives and with their future careers, and we wish them the determination to not let this year stand in the way of their hopes and dreams because they will have learnt different skills whilst adapting to studying at home, have taken on new challenges in supporting others as a result of the pandemic and gained new knowledge from the Summer Diploma courses taken that they wouldn’t have had otherwise and that will stand them apart as a 2020 leaver.”

Millfield’s senior leadership team, careers and sixth form teams are supporting students today and in the coming days with their next steps, advising on UK and overseas university entrance.