Belper teenager achieves A-level success in style

A Belper teenager will study at one of the UK's best arts universities after achieving top A-level grades.
Derby High School A-level pupil Phoebe McMillan, from Belper.Derby High School A-level pupil Phoebe McMillan, from Belper.
Derby High School A-level pupil Phoebe McMillan, from Belper.

Derby High School student Phoebe McMillan, 18, scored an A* in textiles, A* in graphics and B in geography and will be studying interior and spatial design at Falmouth University.

She said: “I thought I had done well in the arts subjects but I wasn’t sure about geography.

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“I was quite confident about my university place as I’d had an interview and a lot of it was portfolio based.

“The email with my results on it came through at 7am and I was happy with them.

“I’d really like to go into the editorial side of interiors so doing something like styling for magazines.

“I’ve been working with interior designer Lucy Coulthard, in Belper, which has been great and I styled my own room. My mum does let me do some of the rooms at home too.”

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Phoebe was one of Derby High School’s many individual success stories as students once again achieved impressive A-level grades.

Individuals achieved their best in a wide variety of courses, including more than 60 per cent studying STEM subjects at A-level.

The school continues to show an impressive five-year average of 40 per cent of grades at A*/A, with two thirds of students achieving A*-B.

Headteacher Denise Gould said: “This was an unusually small year group of just 23 students, who have made an excellent contribution to school life throughout their time at the school and worked hard to achieve their best results.

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“We are delighted to see the girls choosing a wide variety of pathways, where the impressive skills they have developed will be put to excellent use.”

Mrs Gould added: “Research consistently shows the strength of girls’ schools in encouraging girls into science and engineering, but we are equally proud of our track record in the arts, humanities and languages.

“Once again, we can be proud of our young leaders of the future.”

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