A former pupil of St Margaret’s School for Girls, who co-led research at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, returned to her old school last week to encourage students to explore their interests without limitation, reminding them that they do not need to have their future mapped out to achieve extraordinary things.
Particle physicist, Professor Sinead Farrington, delivered a powerful talk during the school’s annual Speech Day.
Originally from Torphins, Aberdeenshire, Sinead has gone on to lead the way internationally in her field, currently serving as the Director of the Particle Physics Department at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the UK’s national laboratory for particle physics. She is also Professor of Experimental Particle Physics at the University of Edinburgh.
A pioneer on the global stage, Sinead co-led research at CERN’s (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research in Switzerland) Large Hadron Collider that established the first evidence of the Higgs boson particle’s decay. Her world-class contributions to science earned her the prestigious Blavatnik Prize in 2021 and election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2022.
Drawing on her own experience as a former pupil, Professor Farrington reflected on how St Margaret’s supportive environment encouraged her to pursue a broad range of interests before ultimately discovering a passion for physics.
Sinead also spoke about the importance of curiosity and resilience, sharing how a career that began with a fascination for understanding how the universe works led her to where she is now. Reflecting on her journey as a woman in what was, at the time, a predominantly male-dominated field, she highlighted the importance of environments that encourage pupils to pursue their passions without limitation, and credited both her former school and family with giving her the confidence to follow her chosen path.
Professor Sinead Farrington, said: “It is a real privilege to be invited back to St Margaret’s for Speech Day. As I sat reflecting on my own memories of school, I was reminded of how the experiences, opportunities and encouragement I received here have stayed with me throughout my life and career, often in ways I only recognised much later.
“I hope the pupils leave knowing that they don’t need to have every step of their future mapped out. Some of the most rewarding opportunities come from following your interests, staying curious and being open to where they might lead.
Anna Tomlinson, Headteacher at St Margaret’s School for Girls, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Sinead back to St Margaret’s as our Speech Day guest speaker. It was incredibly inspiring for our current pupils to hear from a former pupil who has gone on to achieve such success in the field of physics. Her visit has encouraged our pupils to aim high and is a powerful reminder of the endless possibilities that lie ahead for our leavers.”