A COMPUTER whizz and lifeguard used his talents to help others when he set up a special website and chatroom to aid students’ revision.
Concord College student Xingzhi Lu used the platforms to share his revision notes as he worked for his A Levels himself.
“About 25 people used the website and we used the chat group to share ideas and advise each other,” said Xingzhi, who gained four A*s and A* EPQ and a distinction in the Advanced Extension Award mathematics and secured a place at Cambridge University.
Xingzhi attended Shanghai Concord Bilingual School in China before moving to the UK campus at Acton Burnell, near Shrewsbury, where he has grown in confidence after taking part in a host of activities, such as public speaking, singing, art and sport. He even trained as a lifeguard while at school.
His passion for maths saw him take part regularly in Computer Science Olympiads where he competed for the UK against the best minds in the world.
Xingzhi, of Shanghai, was awarded a gold medal certificate of achievement after representing the country in the International AI Olympiad in Slovenia.
The 18-year-old came seventh overall in the world and top in the theoretical section of the prestigious competition.
Xingzhi also took part in the final round of the 2025/26 British Algorithmic Olympiad and the British Informatics final at Churchill College, Cambridge, which qualified him for the 2026 International Olympiad in Informatics in Uzbekistan as one of the four British contestants.
He will now read computer science at Pembroke College, Cambridge University, for three years, with the option to extend this for a fourth year to gain an MEng.
“I would like to be an AI engineer, or work in research in the UK, America or China, though I might also look at launching my own start-up business,” he said.
Principal Dr Michael Truss said: “We are delighted to congratulate our class of 2026 who have all worked so hard to excel and who have achieved truly superb results at A Level. Young people face many challenges and pressures and we hope they will take a moment to enjoy their well-deserved success.”
Thirty-six students this year achieved three A* grades or better and 38 per cent of all grades were A*. Nearly 100 students achieved three As or better.
Dr Truss said: “This is a remarkable testament to the dedication of our students to their studies.”
Among a host of impressive university destinations, nine students have confirmed offers to study at Oxford or Cambridge in the autumn.