Results Day with a ‘Best Friend’
On Thursday, 21 August 2025, Lancashire student Milly Johnson arrived at Tarleton Academy near Preston to collect her GCSE results. But she was not alone.
Standing calmly by her side was Kevin, her four-year-old North Ronaldsay sheep, whom she fondly calls her best friend.
Milly admitted she felt nervous before opening her results but said Kevin kept her calm. “I was quite nervous, but Kevin helped a lot by being here,” she shared.
“He comes everywhere with me, and as you can see, he’s quite chilled.”
Matching Moments and Exam Success
This was not Kevin’s first big occasion. The sheep, known for his long curved horns, even accompanied Milly to her school prom earlier this year, wearing a halter that matched her dress.
When it came to results, Milly secured two grade 7s, two grade 6s, and a mix of 5s and 4s across eight GCSEs. On the eve of results day, she also received an apprenticeship offer in veterinary nursing at a practice in Up Holland, making the day doubly rewarding.
More Than Just a Sheep
To Milly, Kevin is more than a pet. The award-winning shepherd describes him as her “therapy sheep,” helping her stay composed in stressful moments. She often shows him in competitions and recently won first place in the over-11s young handler’s class at the Trawden Agricultural Show.
Later this year, she will compete in the Young Shepherd of the Year contest, with Kevin once again by her side.
Praise from Teachers and Family
Scott Parker, the headteacher of Tarleton Academy, commended Milly for showing both determination and balance.
He praised Milly’s strong commitment both in her studies and outside the classroom, describing her as a role model for her peers and expressing full confidence that she has a bright future ahead.
Milly’s family planned a celebratory pub meal that evening, though Kevin stayed home — “he’s not old enough to drink beer yet,” she joked.
Watch the videos here:
@theipaper A student brought her pet sheep to open her GCSE results from Tarleton Academy in Lancashire. Milly Johnson says that Kevin, a North Ronaldsay sheep, is her ‘best friend’ and goes everywhere with her-he even attended her prom. Milly, who has won awards for her sheep handling, is now set to start a veterinary nurse apprenticeship. #resultsday #gcses
@ghrnews GCSE results day… but with a sheep! #GCSE #resultsday #sheep #agriculture #school
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