Outstanding results for Millfield student who taught himself A Level Maths

A Millfield student is celebrating exceptional A Level results after achieving three A*s in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

For Alex Harrop, Thursday’s results bring his total number of A Levels up to four, having independently achieved an A grade in Maths during his Lower Sixth year.

Alex, a day student from Woodbridge, taught himself A Level Maths and completed the qualification a year earlier than his peers. Having joined Millfield as a Year 10 student already with a Grade 8 Maths GCSE, he has continued to be ahead of the game academically throughout his time at the school. His results have secured him a place at the University of Exeter, where he will study Natural Sciences from September.

Alex’s academic brilliance has extended beyond the curriculum and seen him achieve success in national chemistry competitions. He was the only Millfield student to achieve gold in this year's Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, one of the most demanding and highly regarded Sixth Form chemistry competitions in the country. That result was backed up when Alex was one of only two Millfield students to receive a gold award in the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad, placing him in the top 8.5% of students nationally.

Alex has managed to balance his success in the classroom with embracing the breadth of sporting opportunities available at Millfield. He has represented the school in national and regional competitions in both Swimming and Sailing, while becoming a key member of the Karate programme, with whom he achieved his blue belt last year.

Millfield’s Deputy Head (Academic) David Brooke, said, “Alex’s outstanding results are a testament to his remarkable ability and curiosity. Achieving three A*s in incredibly challenging subjects, alongside independently completing A Level Maths a year early, is an accomplishment that requires exceptional determination and commitment. We are incredibly proud of Alex and the way he has embraced every opportunity during his time at Millfield. We wish him every success as he begins his degree at the University of Exeter and will looking out for what he achieves in the future.”