Four sets of twins celebrate A Level results

Four sets of twins at a top independent school are celebrating receiving their A Level results today. 

Twin brothers Nonso and Chukwudi Ottih describe themselves as a ‘tag team’ and are firmly staying together after Millfield and heading to the USA to attend Emory University in Atlanta Georgia. Nonso will be studying Economics and Chukwudi will study Computer Science. 

The Nigerian brothers, who joined Millfield in Lower Sixth, are inseparable. Nonso said, “We’re hoping to be rooming together during our first year which will help us to settle and make new friends. We spend a lot of time together outside of boarding, playing basketball or football, we always eat lunch together in the dining hall or go into town together for a meal.”

Chukwudi will play basketball for the College Division Two team after he began playing at Millfield. He said, “Coming from Nigeria, I had never really played basketball competitively, so it was a big change when I arrived here. The basketball coach has been really supportive and enabled me to reach the level I am now.” Nonso played football at Millfield and has championed educating students on racism through the school’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Council. He said, “We have done lots of work around racism and inclusivity, in particular I am proud of the discussions we have led around the use of discriminatory language as we had very good engagement from students and staff.” 

The brothers credit their time at Millfield for their personal growth. Nonso said, “What I’m going to miss the most about Millfield are the discussions that revolve around diversity here. Before I came here, I was in Nigeria, with a primarily black student body that didn’t allow me to have too many discussions to learn about other cultures. I’ve learnt a lot about racial sensitivity, learnt about other peoples’ cultures and I think that has really shaped me and helped me grow as an individual.”  

Nonso achieved ABC in Economics, Maths and Physics. Chukwudi gained ACC in Economics, Computing and Maths. 

Twins Claire and James Bratton are two of four siblings who have attended Millfield. They joined Millfield in Year 9 from Hong Kong and describe Millfield as their home. James said, “When we want back to Hong Kong last summer, I remember that it felt like a holiday. And coming back to Millfield, it felt like coming home.” 

Claire and James have enjoyed their independence forging their own paths whilst at Millfield but still having comfort in each other and their other siblings around school. They chose not to be in the same classes. Claire said “In our last school we would end up in the same classes all the time, so I would spend my whole day at school with James, and then at home. Millfield made sure not to put us in the same economics class so we wouldn't annoy each other. I was very glad to have him here with me at school and so I wasn't homesick.” James said all the siblings saw each other regularly, “The Headmaster put on an event called Sibling Sundays which we loved doing.”

The twins will separate for the first time as Claire who is studying English, Economics, History and Chinese achieved grades A*A*AC will be doing a dual degree with UCL and Hong Kong University to study Law and James who studied A levels in Economics, Government & Politics and Maths received ABC and plans to study Economics and Politics. 

Twin sisters Eva and Maddy Gissing describe themselves as opposites with different passions and they are parting ways for university. Eva has a love for arts, while Maddy’s focus is on sports. The boarders from Dubai, joined Millfield in Lower Sixth. Eva will be studying Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting and Maddy will be studying Sports Performance at Bath University. The twins have supported each other throughout their school journeys. Maddy said, “One of my favourite memories of Millfield would be watching Eva perform as Elle in the school’s production of Legally Blonde. I found it quite emotional because I was so proud of her.”  

Maddy achieved a double distinction* in BTEC Sport and B in Media Studies. Eva achieved A*BC in Art, Drama and Psychology. 

Twin brother and sister Alejandro and Gabriela De Bellegarde Diaz-Deus are planning a gap year working and travelling together before both heading to EHL Hospitality Business School. 

Describing themselves as best friends, they joined Millfield in Lower Sixth, from Switzerland, following in the footsteps of their father Count Roger De Bellegarde who attended Millfield 40 years ago. Their dad’s name is still on the wall in his boarding house. Alejandro has to undertake compulsory Swiss National Military Service before taking his gap year.  

The former ski racers studied A levels, Gabriela achieved BBC in business studies, drama and history and Alejandro gained BCD in Spanish, media and business studies. 

Gabriela, who aspires to own a hotel chain in the future, plays polo four times a week and plays piano and guitar, Alejandro enjoys volleyball. 

Gabriela said: “We are looking forward to travelling together and in particular visiting Japan. We have become a lot closer since we came to Millfield and as we have got older.”  Ale said: “We will miss the people and the campus, being close to our friends all of the time and brunch on Sundays. Our caring house parents and matrons have been so important to us during our boarding experience.”