Five A*-A grades for Millfield student in top 0.1%

A Millfield student is celebrating exceptional grades in five A Levels and an AS Level, placing her in the top 0.1% nationally for academic achievement.  

Emily Brooke received an astonishing A*, A*, A, A, A in her five A levels alongside an A in AS German. 

She is one of less than 200 students of the 281,000 students sitting A levels in the UK to have completed five or more qualifications, equating to around 0.07% (based on 2025 stats). 

Switching from learning entirely in French whilst living in Switzerland, Emily joined Millfield in Year 11. Arriving in the UK education system presented a significant transition, but with the support of Millfield's flexible academic programme, Emily embarked on an ambitious and bespoke pathway to accomplish a feat seldom achieved by any UK-based student.  

After joining the school aged 15 in 2023, Emily progressed directly into a tailored Lower Sixth programme, skipping Year 11. During this year, she completed GCSE English and Maths and gained an A* in A Level French and an A in AS Level German. 

She then started the Lower Sixth programme again with her peers, completing four more A levels in Maths, English, Physics and Psychology. She will now go on to study Physics at Durham University. 

Reflecting on her unique academic journey, Emily said: “No other school would have enabled this or been able to manage my timetable in a way to fit everything in. It’s allowed me to build confidence in what I can do both academically and elsewhere. The structure for what I was doing didn’t really exist, and it has given me such a unique experience. The teachers’ incredible enthusiasm and passion for their subjects was a huge help. My English teachers and the Physics Department really inspired me.” 

Emily credits Millfield’s Minerva Lecture Series with stretching her academically. The series sees Millfield welcome a plethora of industry-experts to the school, delivering insightful talks to students, encouraging them to explore areas beyond the curriculum.  

Minerva lecture speakers from this academic year include Film Director and Artist, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Olympian Kriss Akabusi and renowned biographer, cultural historian and University of Oxford lecturer, Dr Anna Beer. 

Emily said, “The Minerva Lecture series is a really exceptional part of Millfield’s academic offering. It was incredibly helpful in allowing me to gain insights into different topics and enjoy the process of learning and discovering more about all my subjects. To juggle so many subjects at once, you have to be genuinely curious about what you’re studying, and the lectures helped inspire that curiosity.”  

Alongside her academic success, Emily has embraced the wide range of opportunities available at Millfield. She has achieved her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, as well as serving as a school prefect, and this year has been Co-Captain of the Millfield Rowing Team. She also has been actively involved in drama productions, working both on stage and backstage. 

Emily said “These were all incredible opportunities that involved motivating a team, setting the standard and leading by example. Rowing is a very technical sport and can be mentally challenging, so helping others develop resilience and confidence there has been specifically rewarding and is something I hope to continue at university.” 

Reflecting on her time at Millfield, Emily said “I was blown away by all the opportunities when I first arrived at this school. My advice to others would be to try lots of things here while you can. It’s a school that allows you to experience so much, so make the most of the privilege to discover your passions and immerse yourself in what you enjoy most.”