Pupils and teachers from Scotland’s oldest all girls’ school, St Margaret’s School for Girls in Aberdeen, are today celebrating a year of outstanding academic achievement as the latest SQA results are announced.
This year marks a historic milestone, with the school reporting record-breaking National 5 results. An exceptional 99.3% National 5 pass rate (A-C) was achieved by pupils in S4, with 95.4% of those grades at A or B level. Looking back over the years since National 5 was introduced, this has set a new record for the school. The school also reported a 96.7% pass rate (A-C) at Higher level among S5 pupils, with 85.8% of grades at A or B, while pupils sitting Advanced Highers secured a 95.3% pass rate, including 84.9% at grades A or B.
The 100% pass rate of S4 pupils in their National 5 Mathematics and English exams is also notable. All S4 pupils sat an English and a Mathematics course: 94.7% achieved an A pass in English and 92.1% an A grade in a Mathematics course. Not to be outdone, S5 pupils achieved a 100% pass rate (A-C) in Higher English and Mathematics.
With one third of girls in sixth year choosing to study medicine and 4 in 5 pupils choosing a STEM subject at university, the results underline the school's success in preparing young women for future careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics where women have traditionally been under-represented.
Among those celebrating today is Celine, who is preparing to cross the Atlantic this autumn to embark on the opportunity of a lifetime after accepting a place to study Computer Science at the world-renowned Harvard University.
Reflecting on her experience at St Margaret’s, Celine said: “I’m incredibly honoured to have this opportunity. Harvard has always been a dream of mine, and I’m looking forward to learning from some of the best minds in the world. The liberal arts curriculum will allow me to explore a wide variety of academic subjects across both the humanities and STEM, which is something I really look forward to. I’m also eager to experience campus life and everything Harvard has to offer. I’m so grateful for the support of my teachers and everyone at St Margaret’s, who encouraged me to aim high, explore my interests, and believe in myself.”
Ellie Ong is celebrating the achievement of straight As at Advanced Higher level as she prepares to pursue her course in Medicine, commenting: “I am so excited to take up my place at Edinburgh University to study Medicine. I have had a wonderful education at St Margaret’s: the school has given me a lot of individual attention and support in university applications. As a result, I have the confidence to follow my dreams!”
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 music, English literature, economics and international relations, reflecting the diverse interests and talents of this year’s leavers.
Olivia McKay, who joined St Margaret’s for her S6 year, is delighted to be heading off to Aberdeen University to study International Business.
She said: “I only joined St Margaret’s at the start of sixth year. From the outset I was made so welcome and I felt that my teachers really cared about me. My confidence has grown so much at St Margaret’s and I now know that I can achieve at a high level and I’m looking forward to taking the next step in my studies at Aberdeen University.”
Headteacher of St Margaret’s School for Girls, Anna Tomlinson
Headteacher of St Margaret’s School for Girls, Anna Tomlinson, said: “These results are testament to our pupils’ hard work and the dedication of our teaching staff. The outstanding strength of this year’s results and the range of university destinations reflects our unwavering commitment to nurturing each girl’s individual talents and aspirations.
“We are incredibly proud of all our students and extend particularly warm wishes to our sixth year leavers, all of whom are now taking up places at an impressive range of universities. Among this exceptional year group, 11 pupils will go on to study medicine – a remarkable achievement in a highly competitive field. We are also delighted that one of our pupils has secured a place at Harvard University to study Computer Science – a testament to her remarkable talent and dedication.”