Pupils across Aberdeen were jumping for joy yesterday as exam results showed an increase in overall pass rates – despite concerns about what was deemed a particularly hard Higher maths paper.
This year brought an increase in the number of pupils sitting exams amid changes in qualifications and in the wider education system as a result of Curriculum for Excellence.
In Aberdeen, 3,752 pupils took part this year, compared to 3,683 in 2014- an increase of 1.9%.
Among those celebrating was Charlotte Barelle, 16, who received five As in her Higher exams after studying at Harlaw Academy.
She is now looking forward to returning to school for sixth year and is considering following in her mother’s footsteps by joining the biotechnology industry.
She said: “The results were even better than I expected and my family are really proud.
“My mum owns her own biotech company so I’d be looking to do something scientific at university and maybe go down the same route.”
Aberdeen City Council’s convener of education and children’s services Angela Taylor said: “We must acknowledge the hard work and dedication shown by our pupils and staff with the new exams and the new curriculum – they have put in a lot of effort which is reflected in the exam results.”
The city’s privately-educated pupils were also celebrating success with St Margaret’s School for Girls, Robert Gordon College and Albyn School posting impressive results.
Alice Jaspars, 18, of Robert Gordons is now heading for Oxford to study archaeology and anthropology at Magdalen College after achieving As in three Advanced Highers and an A at Higher.
Miss Jaspars, from Old Aberdeen, will even get the chance to get her fingers dirty on a dig very close to home – the recently discovered medieval skeletons in the school’s grounds.
She said she was delighted to be embarking on a career path she had settled on as a six-year-old – but never imagined it would start so close to home.
“I’ve been told I can spend a day working with the archaeologist Alison Cameron at her office where the skeletons are being kept,” she added.
St Margarets’ pupil Annie Mackley, 17, from Kingswells, gained A passes in Higher English, maths, French, biology, chemistry and physics and is considering a career in international law.
At Albyn School, this year’s S5 results exceeded all expectations. As well as a 96% pass rate, just under 62% examination papers were passed at A grade – the best results for the school in more than a decade with 19 out of the 68 pupils in the year attaining five straight A grades.
Headmaster Ian Long said: “The pupils have done exceptionally well this year and have done themselves, their parents and the school proud.”