The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
School’s SQA results among top in Scotland
The High School of Dundee has a long-established record of academic excellence. In 2017, that was reflected in the fact that every single one of the pupils who applied to university received an offer. Quite astonishingly, all 15 of the medical applicants secured places at medical schools across the UK.
It was also shown in some outstanding individual achievements as one pupil, Elle Wyatt, was recognised as Scotland’s top performer in the 2017 SQA exams after winning the SQA’s Academic Excellence award.
In addition, High School of Dundee pupils scored the top, or joint top marks in three separate Advanced Higher subjects: maths, physics and chemistry. In physics two of the school’s pupils shared the top mark in Scotland.
High School of Dundee pupils also achieved the joint top marks in three N5 subjects: maths, French and Italian.
These achievements do not take place in a vacuum. The High School of Dundee’s focus is on enabling every pupil to reach their full potential.
The school’s Integrated Curriculum brings together the academic, the cocurricular and pupil health and wellbeing to provide a coordinated and genuine all-round education with the pupil at the heart.
In the primary years children receive subject specialist teaching in science, modern languages, ICT, art, music, drama, PE and home economics. This provides a real head start.
Choice is paramount. In S3, pupils continue to choose eight subjects, while in S5 they can select from 26 subjects at Higher level. At Advanced Higher, 21 subjects are available. Pupils are able to take all three sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) concurrently from N5 through to Advanced Higher level.
Throughout the school, staff keep class sizes small so that pupils receive all the attention they need to develop and progress.
The highly developed pastoral care system is woven into the fabric of everyday life ensuring that pupils have all the support they need to flourish.
Opportunity extends far beyond the classroom. Pupils have access to a range of almost 100 co-curricular activities and can take advantage of the school’s outstanding indoor and outdoor sports facilities at the Mayfield campus, and take part in regular life-changing trips.
Means-tested financial assistance is available in the senior school and in P6 and P7 of the junior school.
Early years funding towards places at the purpose-built nursery at Mayfield is also now available. The friendly facility is open to all, from 7.30am to 6pm, 50 weeks of the year.
Dedicated bus services to the High School are offered from various locations in Angus and Perthshire and – in addition to the existing Fife service – there are now new services stopping at Glenrothes, Freuchie, Ladybank, Cupar, Dairsie and Balmullo.