Jack Chambers, Class of ‘22 has achieved the highest marks in Scotland for SQA Advanced Higher Physics in the 2022 exam presentations.

One of ten pupils who achieved four As at Advanced Higher, Jack is now studying Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He said: “I am delighted to have done so well in the Advanced Higher Physics exam this year and I could not have done this without the invaluable support of my S6 Physics teachers - Mrs Carnegie, Dr Lonie and Mr McEwan. I was also lucky to have a very enthusiastic peer group, who were always keen to talk about physics, and I look forward to continuing to explore this fascinating subject within the framework of university mathematics.”

Mrs Lara Carnegie, Teacher of Physics taught Jack in S4, S5 and S6. Mrs Carnegie shared: “It has been a privilege to be part of Jack’s journey; he has always stood out as a truly exceptional student of Physics. Jack’s very natural ability to understand scientific concepts and work ethic gave us lots of lovely opportunities to discuss more complex ideas and his desire to truly understand his universe would often inspire me to also deepen my own. Having Jack in my classroom for the last 4 years has shown his fellow pupils what is possible, with dedication to their learning, and challenged me to be a better teacher. I will follow his future career with interest and a great deal of pride.”

In his final year at school, Jack achieved Top Gold in the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) Round 1 competition placing him in the top 7% of pupils who took part. He went on to sit the BPhO Round 2 and British Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad (BAAO) papers where he achieved Silver and Bronze Awards, respectively. This is a remarkable achievement where only 99 students in the UK sat the Astronomy and Astrophysics paper.

Congratulating Jack on his achievement, Dr Lonie, Head of Physics added: “Jack’s intellectual curiosity and passion for learning are outstanding. His achievement in the Advanced Higher exam is a very just reward for his efforts. He is a thoroughly exceptional young man whose unassuming nature belies his talent and we are delighted to have been a part of his journey.”  

Adding her congratulations to Jack’s superb achievement, Mrs Smith, Head of Senior School, said: “We are very proud of Jack and all he has achieved throughout his time at Robert Gordon’s. His experience in S6 of being inspired and challenged by teachers in a subject he loves is what we aim to do in the Senior School, to lay strong foundations for life-long learning. 

“There is an overwhelming sense of pride in the overall 2022 examination success at Robert Gordon’s College and the diverse range of destinations that pupils are embarking on. Our Universities and Careers Team work with pupils individually to advise and guide on the best way forward for each of them. They also work closely with the College Development Office, connecting pupils with the extensive Gordon’s alumni network in order to open up new pathways and possibilities for the future. It is worth noting that the 99% of S6 pupils at Robert Gordon’s were offered their first university choice following impressive final year results -  77.4% of 142 pupils achieved A-B passes at Advanced Higher.”

Robert Gordon’s College is home to the UK’s largest school teaching facility for Science and Technology. The award-winning Wood Foundation Centre for Science and Technology was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal in February 2016.