Moment of truth as results arrive
Bannockburn High hails improvement
The long wait was finally over this week as young people from across the Stirling area received their exam results.
Months of hard work and sacrifice paid off for many when they got their much-anticipated results envelopes or text messages on Wednesday morning.
The Observer visited Bannockburn High to hear what the bright youngsters there made of their grades.
Head eacher Karen Hook revealed that S5 and S6 year groups had performed outstandingly well, with marks up on the previous year.
Head girl Stephanie Hamilton was among those who achieved high standards in her fifth year Higher exams.
She woke on Wednesday morning to find that she managed three As and two Bs – and now has her sights set on more academic success.
The 16-year-old said: “It had been stressful waiting but I’m really happy with my results. I got them by text.”
Stephanie explained that the subject she is most confident in is English and she is set to test herself by embarking on an Advanced Higher course in the subject next year.
However, she has her sights set on a different career path altogether.
She added: “In the future I’d like to go to a dance college. My aim would be to one day become a professional dancer.
“I’ve already had some offers but I wanted to stay on for my sixth year.”
Head boy David McKail is sure to celebrate after an impressive set of results.
The 17 year-old achieved five Higher B grades in PE, maths, English, chemistry and French and he is also set to take on Advanced Higher English in the next year.
He said: “I studied a lot so I’m pleased with the results.
“I was a bit nervous this morning as I waited until I got into school to open the envelope. I found a quiet corner to do it.
“I think there will be a party tonight to celebrate.”
David added that he is looking forward to also taking on a sports leader class in his sixth year along with crash courses in biology and business.
He would like to work in the sports industry in the future, perhaps as a physio.
Both David and Stephanie were keen to recognise the efforts of staff at the school in supporting young people throughout the academic year.
Stephanie said: “The school really helped us a lot. Teachers would stay on after school and spend their lunchtimes supporting us, which really helped.”
Ms Hook paid tribute to the hardworking pupils of Bannockburn High.
She told the Observer: “We are extremely proud of all the young people. You have seen already that they are a credit to the school.
“We’ve seen a four per cent improvement in our S5 results and a six per cent improvement in S6 so we are delighted with that.
“It’s a real team effort and the support of families is crucial, along with the staff at the school who work so hard to support the young people.”
Morag McLoughlan, service manager for schools, learning and education at Stirling Council, spoke about the importance of preparing young people for the future.
She said: “There are so many diverse career pathways out there so we all need to work hard to prepare them and support them to help them achieve their full potential in whatever they want to do.
“The young people have all worked so hard and they have a lot to be proud of.”
Councillor Susan McGill, convenor of the council’s children and young people committee, said: “The results are a credit to everyone involved with our schools and I’d like to pay special thanks to not only our education staff but our parents and carers, who are so vital in helping our young people achieve such success.”