The community at Robert Gordon’s College is proud to see record numbers of exam qualifications achieved across all presentation levels confirming placements at top universities, higher education in the creative sector and international opportunities.

S4, S5 and S6 pupils were welcomed back to school this morning for a ‘Celebration Breakfast’. Pictured with Mrs Smith and Mr Macpherson, Owen (S4), Jefline (S5) and Oyenmwen (S6) gathered with peers from across the examination year groups to reflect on their achievements and celebrate. 

The majority of S4 pupils sat eight National 5 exams with an A-C pass rate of 95.1%. The average number of Highers achieved by S5 pupils is 4.84, with a 96% A-C pass rate. At S6, 153 pupils sat Advanced Higher with a 91.4% A-C pass rate and 76% A-B pass. The average number of Advanced Highers achieved per pupil is an impressive 2.38.

Mrs Smith, Head of Robert Gordon’s College Senior School shared: “As the school community celebrates another year of excellent exam results, I would like to congratulate each and every one of our pupils on their achievements. Results Day marks the culmination of the hard work and perseverance of everyone involved: pupils, parents and teachers. My thanks go to all for their commitment and drive; this is their time to celebrate.

“Robert Gordon’s pupils have, once again, secured places at the top universities, on the most competitive courses, across the UK and beyond which include Law, Neuroscience and Economics at Edinburgh, Languages at Cambridge, Art and Design at Dundee and Glasgow, and History with German at Princeton, New Jersey. We are proud of the varied post-school destinations of our S6 Leavers’, reflecting the support each pupil receives in order to ensure their individual pathway is the right one for them. The wide range of courses and destinations are also inspirational for our younger pupils.”  

Owen (S4) said: I can feel confident going into Higher and pursuing my goals to get into a good engineering university, knowing lots of paths are open for me. Staying focused was hard for me, but due to the number of support sessions the school had, I was able to attend those and be in an environment where I was able to stay focused and not get distracted. I was able to get a great understanding of where I was lacking and they  gave me confidence in the areas where I needed.”

Jefline (S5) added: "My results have enabled me to achieve the first step in applying to Medicine. I participated in work experience at the Ophthalmology department in ARI this summer. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it solidified my passion for medicine. I am now looking forward to all the S6 events that take place throughout the school year."

Looking forward to higher education studies in medicine, Oyenmwen (S6) highlighted: "Advanced Highers was a huge step up from Highers for me academically. With free periods and other commitments within school, I had to manage my time effectively whilst also figuring out an efficient way to study more advanced courses. My teachers were extremely supportive. Mrs Pirie helped me a lot with my interview skills. I also had extra lessons with Dr Kennedy where she would explain aspects of the Advanced Higher Chemistry course in more detail for me to understand and grasp better. Miss Reid also guided me during the stages of my application process for medicine. In general, my subject teachers words of encouragement and advice pushed me to do the best I could academically and I am very thankful for that."

Jasmine (S6) is off to study Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge with a focus on French with Spanish. Hearing the exciting news this morning, Jasmine said: “I joined Robert Gordon’s College in S1 from Kaimhill Primary School. I love languages! My favourite subject was Advanced Higher French, especially the speaking aspect, so this really motivated me to pursue languages at degree level. Originally, I was interested in going down the STEM route but then realised my passion is languages and the teachers were very supportive, guiding me along the way. I greatly attribute my success to how lovely all my teachers have been to me. Although Advanced Highers are challenging, I really enjoyed the independent aspect of S6, it has been my favourite year at Robert Gordon’s College. I have also loved working with the Junior School pupils and the Out of Hours Care team in the After School Club this year. It was so much fun, it really helped balance everything when I encountered an injury which led to a year out from competitive sport.  I am unsure about what career path I will take after university but I do know I would love to live in another country for a while.”

Olivier (S6), has been awarded one of ten places to study Meteorology and Climate at the University of Reading with a year based in Oklahoma. Eager to start the course in September, Olivier is no stranger to living in new environments, he shared: “I have travelled throughout my childhood where my family have lived in Australia, Argentina, France and Scotland. Experiencing different cultures around the world has fueled my interest in the weather and how it impacts many critical areas of life. With only two university options for Meteorology, I am ecstatic to be able to further my passion at such a prestigious university in this sector. Although it is such a niche course to study, it can be adapted to suit many professions in the interests of organisations who consult on weather and climate forecasts to ensure operational efficiencies as well as economic prosperity. The scope of future opportunities is so varied with many options including sports and safety, marine and offshore, aviation, transportation of utilities, and agriculture. After university, I would like to pursue a career as an Operational Meteorologist, perhaps in the United States analysing thunderstorms and extreme weather. All ideas are good ideas at Robert Gordon’s. The school has kindled my love of learning and always encouraged me to challenge myself and tackle everything with a positive mindset. I have really enjoyed my time at Robert Gordon’s, it has been a fulfilling experience.”

Mr Macpherson, Head of Robert Gordon’s College is thrilled with the achievements of the pupils. “Today is a great day for all RGC pupils who can reflect on their results with real pride. The staff know just how hard they work, and how determined they are to succeed. The headline results are hugely impressive, but what I’m most struck by is that we have seen a record number of qualifications being taken by pupils at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher. It’s not just that pupils are getting great results, but that they are getting more of them than ever before. We have the broadest curriculum range in the north-east of Scotland and our pupils have free range to choose subjects, so that drives their ambition.   

“We have hundreds of young people finding out their results today and there is so much success to celebrate. There will be a lot of happy households in the Gordon’s community today, and rightly so. We know that results like these come from pupils being well supported in the classroom and at home, so it is a real team effort. We’re so proud of them all!”