Millfield students secure places at top US universities

Two Millfield hockey students have accepted places to attend highly prestigious American universities.

Upper Sixth Tottie Taylor has signed to attend Stanford University, California, on a Sport Scholarship when she finishes her studies and Kitty Chapple, who left Millfield last year, has signed to attend Ivy League Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Seventeen-year-old Tottie has played hockey since Year 3 at Millfield Prep School. She decided to focus on it as her main sport in Year 11, with hopes to secure a place at a US university.

Off the hockey pitch, Tottie currently studies A levels in Chemistry, Biology and Business Studies. She scored highly in her recent SAT exams, placing her in the top 92% nationally represented percentile.

Tottie said, “I am super excited to have the opportunity to be studying, competing, and experiencing university life in California. My coaches Reggie Keates (Director of Hockey), Alan Richardson (Director of Athletics), Zach Harrop and Jack Oaten (Strength and Conditioning Coaches) have been great in helping me with my application, and training to prepare me for the demand of collegiate field hockey in the US, I can’t thank them enough.”

Recent leaver Kitty joined Millfield in Year 9 and left last summer having achieved three A*s in Biology, Music and Italian A levels. While at Millfield, Kitty represented England Hockey at U16, U18 and U21 levels, and was selected for the GB Elite Development Programme. Kitty also played for the Bristol Club Clifton Robinsons in the Women’s Hockey Premier League for three seasons, making her debut aged just 15, becoming the youngest player in the Premier League at the time. Kitty played for the Millfield first team for three seasons and was captain in her last year. Being at Millfield also allowed Kitty to pursue her passion for music. She was a keen member of both the Millfield Orchestra and award-winning Camerata chamber choir, and she passed her Grade 8 singing and Grade 7 trumpet exams whilst at Millfield.

Kitty said, “I am so excited to be going to Harvard as a student athlete. At Harvard I will be able to pursue my sporting ambitions while also benefiting from the very best academic environment and opportunities. My sporting journey would not have been possible without Reggie Keates and I’m extremely thankful for all of the support, kindness and advice he gave me over the last five years - not just on the hockey pitch but off the pitch as well. My time at Millfield was a fantastic experience and I left with some great friendships and so many amazing and unforgettable sporting memories.”

Director of Hockey, Reggie Keates, said, “I am very proud to see Tottie and Kitty signing to attend such great universities. They worked hard towards their goals which made them great players to have on the team and they have the talent and determination to excel. I wish them all the best in their next ventures.”

Millfield is proud to provide specialist guidance for applications to American universities by employing a Tutor in Charge, timetabled SAT classes (headed by our SAT advisor Heather Jackson) and a Virginian Fellow, which is a student at the University of Virginia who resides at Millfield to assist with the US university application process. Millfield is also one of few SAT centres in the UK, which means that pupils can take their SAT entry exam onsite.