School heads praise pupils
As students across the country opened their exam results last week, one Kinlochleven pupil celebrated her exam success on the other side of the world.
Former school captain Jo Shepton, 18, can add two Advanced Higher As in Physics and Maths and an A in Higher Graphic Communications to the four As and a B she achieved in her Highers last year.
On top of this achievement, Jo has earned her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award which included 400 hours of volunteering in her community during her time at Kinlochleven High School.
With that impressive clutch of qualifications, the teenager received five unconditional offers for universities across the country.
‘I am really happy with my results this year,’ said Jo. ‘It has been stressful at times and it took a lot of hard work. It has really stretched me and pushed me to my limits. I hope this will put me in good stead for studying astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh next year.’
Jo received her SQA results while in Western Australia, where she is taking a year out before starting her degree in September next year.
She is currently on Rottnest Island, an A-class nature reserve and home to the Quokkas, a small native marsupial.
Mrs Machin, Kinlochleven High School’s head teacher, said: ‘Jo works so hard and contributes so much. She was one of our school captains this year, Young Volunteer of the year at the 2017 Voscars, always playing an active role. I was not surprised when she received unconditional offers from five of our most prestigious universities.
‘At this time of year, schools are often asked about exam results and statistics and we sometimes lose sight of the amazing individual achievements of our youngsters.’
Lochaber High School head teacher Scott Steele also said he was pleased with this year’s SQA results and feels the students’ performance in exams has been ‘robust’ and demonstrates an improving trend for the school.
He said: ‘We have a number of students who have left us after this year’s diet of exams having achieved a host of qualifications.
‘For example, Carla Berardelli has left with seven A passes and one C pass at Higher and two Advanced Highers and Carys Bilton has left us with five A passes at Higher and two As and one B at Advanced Higher.
‘I sincerely hope our students continue to thrive and create successful futures.’
Ardnamurchan High School head teacher Christopher Millar-Craig congratulated the hard work of pupils, staff and the supportive parents for the exam results.
He said: ‘Congratulations to so many of our young people who achieved well this year in their exams. I am particularly pleased a number of our young people are having success with one or more Higher qualification in S4. In S4, particular mentions go to those pupils who achieved to a high standard in two Highers in addition to their National 5 exams; Janie Patterson, Alistair Tait and Ben Gregg. In S5, particular mentions go to Kay Christian and Lyall Morris for achieving five Highers.
‘Well done, too, to so many of our young people this year for the huge range of wider achievement and volunteering they have been engaged in and the continued success with the Duke of Edinburgh award.
‘Ardnamurchan High School has the highest percentage uptake of the award in Highland.
‘I wish all our leavers the very best.’