Alex Cheatle, an Oundle School pupil, has become one of the three winners of the prestigious nationwide ‘Make it, Break It’ 2009 song writing competition run by the Sir Paul McCartney who founded Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA).

She said: “I’m still in shock really, MIBI is such an amazing thing to win and it will hopefully open a lot of doors.”

Prizes include £500 pounds worth of recording equipment for the school, an EMI consultation and a five-day workshop in Liverpool.

Alex describes her winning song, “People Talk about Us” as “the feelings you first get when you fall in love with someone and the happy memories you can create with them.”

Competition judge Mark Radcliffe, a Radio 2 Presenter, said: “Alex has real charm – the slightly simplistic approach really adds to the appeal of what she’s doing.” Other judges included singer-songwriter Dawn Joseph and Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin – a former winner at the same age as Alex.

“To think that Chris Martin has listened to my song and liked it is astounding, practically mind blowing. It launched his career!”

Along with Coldplay, she lists names such as Lily Allen, Regina Spektor and Florence + the Machine as her main musical influences.

She will now travel to Liverpool in October, to perform in a spectacular award show in front of a plethora of musical executives and celebrities along with her friends and family.

Even with this new found fame, Alex isn’t finished in Oundle yet, “I’m going to do my A levels and then definitely go to University. After that who knows what will happen?”

Along with appearances on Oundle School’s Oscar Radio, Alex is now putting together her debut album, The Enigma Variations, which should be available by early December