Robert Gordon’s College celebrates the dedication, ambition and resilience of its senior pupils as they receive their 2026 examination results and prepare to embrace the exciting opportunities ahead.
These results continue a strong tradition of academic excellence at the
College, with pupils achieving highly across an extensive range of subjects and
pathways. From STEM and Languages to Social Subjects, Creative Arts and
specialist disciplines, pupils are supported to pursue their individual
interests and achieve their aspirations.
Higher results were a particular highlight this year, above both
the national average and independent school averages, with 95% achieving A-C
grades, 87.6% A-B grades, 81.3% five A grades, and 67.5% of entries awarded an
A grade. Pupils achieved an exceptional average of 4.81 Highers. In English,
95.6% achieved A-C grades and 86% achieved A-B grades, while in Mathematics,
95% achieved A-C grades and 88% achieved A-B grades. Further highlights
included 94% A-C grades and 88% A-B grades across Higher Sciences, 94% A-B
grades in Languages with 93.3% achieving A grades in Spanish, and 85.2%
achieving A grades in Computing. Pupils also achieved 90.4% A-B grades in
History, 100% A-B grades in Art, Drama, German and Mandarin, and 100% A-C
grades in Applications of Mathematics, French, Music Technology, Philosophy, PE
and RMPS.
At National 5 level, S4 pupils achieved a strong set of results,
also above both the national and independent school averages, with 95%
achieving A-C grades. Pupils performed exceptionally well across the
curriculum, with 100% A grades in PE, 100% A-B grades in Latin, and 100% A-C
grades in English, Music and Art. There were particularly strong performances in
English and Mathematics, with 82.6% achieved A grades in English and 78.9%
achieved A grades in Mathematics, alongside 97% achieving A-B grades in English
and 88.8% achieving A-B grades in Mathematics. Pupils also achieved outstanding
results in Biology, with 98.1% A-C grades, Computing Science, with 91% A-B
grades, Spanish, with 90.2% A-B grades, Accounting, with 83.3% A grades, RMPS,
with 100% A-B grades, and Economics, with 97% A-C grades.
As S6 pupils prepare to move on to incredible pathways beyond
school, they have demonstrated resilience, commitment and personal growth
throughout their final year. The opportunities and experiences of S6 are
central to preparing pupils for life beyond the College, helping them to
develop the confidence, independence and skills required to flourish in the
future. At Advanced Higher, 90.4% of entries awarded A-C grades, 12.8% above
the national average, and an average of 2.23 Advanced Highers achieved per
pupil. There were impressive performances across a range of subjects, including
100% A grades in German and Mandarin, 100% A-B grades in Music, and 100% A-C
grades in Art, Biology, Classical Studies, Computing Science, Economics,
French, Geography, History, RMPS and Spanish. Further highlights included 96.5%
A-C grades in English, 91.2% A-C grades in Mathematics, 87.5% A-B grades in
Chemistry and Biology, 88.9% A-B grades in Economics, 94.1% A-B grades in
Geography and 90% A-B grades in History.
Mrs Clare Smith, Head of Senior School, shared: “We are immensely proud of the results we are celebrating today. Every individual achievement reflects the commitment, effort and ambition of our senior pupils.
“These results demonstrate the impact of high-quality teaching and learning, the breadth of our curriculum and the exceptional opportunities available to our pupils. Our broad National 5 offering provides pupils with the knowledge, skills and confidence to progress successfully to Higher study in S5; this is illustrated in the outstanding Higher results the S5 cohort have achieved this year.
“With the support of families and the wider College community, our pupils are equipped to embrace new opportunities with confidence and ambition. We are here to support all of our pupils with their next steps and look forward to seeing them continue to flourish.”
For those moving on to Higher Education, the Class of 2026 has secured firm offers across a diverse range of subjects at universities throughout the UK and beyond. Destinations include Imperial College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of St Andrews, The University of Edinburgh, Durham University, University of Bristol, University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, University of Southampton, Newcastle University, Heriot-Watt University, University of Strathclyde, University of Aberdeen, University of Dundee, University of Stirling, Robert Gordon University, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), and Queen’s University of Charlotte in the USA. The range of offers secured from The University of Edinburgh this year is also a notable achievement, highlighting the strength of applications and the academic aspirations of RGC pupils.
The courses span a broad range of disciplines, with Medicine being a popular destination. There is also strong representation across Engineering subjects, including Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Aeronautical, Aerospace, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, as well as Engineering with Foundation programmes. There is significant uptake in Business, Finance and Economics, including Accounting and Finance, Business Management, International Business, Finance, and Statistics. Other popular areas include Law (including Scots Law and joint honours), Computer Science and Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Geography, Psychology, History, Politics and International Relations, English, Modern Languages, and Architecture. Creative and specialist courses such as Filmmaking, Theatre and Film, Drama, Acting, Art and Design, Journalism, Theology, Archaeology, Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Geology, Sports and Exercise Science, Physiotherapy, Optometry, and Primary Education are also represented.
Reflecting the varied ambitions and interests of RGC pupils, a small number are also pursuing exciting gap year opportunities. These include international experiences, such as travelling to Australia to work as a teaching assistant and sports coach, as well as taking a year out to focus on competitive sport.
Mr Robin Macpherson, Head of College, highlighted: “These results reflect both the hard work of our pupils and the outstanding culture of teaching and learning at the College. We are delighted to celebrate the successes of our pupils and recognise the dedication of staff and families who support them. The results at every level open up a fantastic range of future options and therefore pathways, so our pupils can be all they can be. For the incredible number of pupils achieving five As at Higher, this is an outstanding accomplishment and creates a strong foundation for Advanced Higher opportunities in S6. We also warmly congratulate the Class of 2026 on their excellent results and wish them every success as they move forward and join our global former pupil community. We look forward to welcoming them back in the years ahead, hearing their stories and celebrating the many ways they continue to make their mark.”