Pupils and teachers from Scotland’s oldest all girls’ school, St Margaret’s School for Girls in Aberdeen, are celebrating another year of outstanding academic achievement as the latest Qualifications Scotland results are announced.
The school set a new record for National 5 results this year with a significant increase in the number of A grades. An exceptional 99.6% National 5 pass rate (A-C) was achieved by pupils in S4, with 90.1% of those at A grade and 97.1% at A or B grade. Looking back over the years since National 5 was introduced, this has set a new record of A grades for the school. The school also reported a 97.1% pass rate (A-C) at Higher level among S5 pupils, with 92% of grades at A or B, while pupils sitting Advanced Highers secured a 95.3% pass rate, including 82.6% at grades A or B.
All subjects are celebrating excellent results. For the third consecutive year the school is celebrating the 100% pass rate of S4 pupils in their National 5 Mathematics and English exams. 94% achieved an A pass in English and 96 % an A grade in Mathematics. Not to be outdone, S5 pupils again achieved a 100% pass rate (A-C) in Higher English and Mathematics.
Among those celebrating is Keira Bespalov, who is preparing to take up a place at The University of Glasgow to study Aeronautical Engineering.
Girls celebrating with Head Anna Tomlinson
Reflecting on her experience at St Margaret’s Keira said: “I am so excited to start my degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Being at an all-girls school like St Margaret’s meant I never thought twice about pursuing a field traditionally dominated by men. Being educated in an all-girls environment means that there are no ceilings or stereotypes; girls are supported to excel in STEM subjects just as much as any other field. At St Margaret’s the academic challenge was always high, but it was matched with incredible support and encouragement from teachers who believed in me every step of the way.”
Ifunanya Okwu is celebrating the achievement of straight As at Advanced Higher level as she prepares to pursue Mechanical Engineering, commenting:
“I am delighted to be studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Glasgow. St Margaret’s truly empowers girls to thrive in STEM. Beyond the technical subjects, the school has instilled in me a genuine love of learning and curiosity about how the world works. Having such a solid foundation in both numeracy and literacy has been crucial; STEM subjects gave me the analytical rigor required for engineering, while other subjects taught me how to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively. I couldn’t have asked for better preparation for university life.”
Gwen MacDonald is all set to pursue her dream of becoming a vet: “I am thrilled to have accepted my offer to study Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow! Getting into vet school requires so much more than just high grades; the tailored careers advice and constant encouragement from staff at St Margaret’s helped me navigate every stage of the application process. I am also looking forward to continuing to pursue my passion for music at university as St Margaret’s has also nurtured my love of performance.”
Keira, Ifunanya, Gwen together
While STEM continues to be a popular choice among pupils, St Margaret’s provides a rich and balanced curriculum and is committed to supporting girls to follow their own interests and dreams. Girls are also pursuing university studies in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, including subjects such as law, theatre production, economics and international relations, reflecting the diverse interests and talents of this year’s leavers.
Headteacher of St Margaret’s School for Girls, Anna Tomlinson, said: “The 2026 results highlight the shared commitment of our hardworking pupils and dedicated staff. The stellar academic performance and wide array of university destinations reflect our core mission: supporting each girl's individual talents and aspirations.”
“What is notable about St Margaret’s examination results is that this outstanding level of success is not a one off but is part of a consistent record of very high attainment year on year.”
“We are incredibly proud of all our students and extend particularly warm wishes to our sixth year leavers, who are now taking up places at an impressive range of universities. From a sports scholarship in America to engineering at Imperial College London, girls are pursuing a wide range of courses including law, medicine, pharmacy, English, computing science, economics and veterinary medicine to name but a few.
Whatever her chosen pathway, each girl leaves St Margaret’s richer for her presence and we wish our wonderful leavers every happiness and success for the future.”