Information for Parents

From the Rector Request a Prospectus Getting to Hutchesons’

Academic Success in 2008

Outstanding achievements

Pupils in S4, S5 and S6 performed oustandingly well in the SQA and A level exams in 2008, with pass rates and A grades well above average.

  • Only eight pupils in Scotland achieved six Highers, all at Grade A, band 1. Four of those pupils were at Hutchesons'.
  • The 198 S5 pupils achieved an average of 4.5 Higher passes each.
  • A total of 73% of S5 pupils (125 pupils) achieved at least five Higher passes.
  • 23% of the total year group (45 pupils) achieved at least five Grade A passes
  • 12 pupils passed all six Highers at Grade A.

Outstripping National Trends

Several departments at Hutchesons' significantly outstripped national standards in 'A' grades and pass rates for Higher. In Art, French, Geography, Music and Technology, more than 70% of candidates achieved 'A' grades.

Academic Excellence

Identical twins Sophie and Katie Fox both achieved identically excellent grades - six ‘A' grades at Higher - and are currently in S6 at Hutchesons'.  10 other pupils achieved 6 As, four of them - Peter Malcolm, Richard Newman, Charlotte Read and Stephen Rose - all at A band 1. Only four other pupils in Scotland matched their achievement.

Two Hutchie pupils reached perfection in A level Physics this year.  Anish Deshpande, who was one of the 2008 Joint Boys' Dux Medallists, scored 100% in all his A level papers, as did Douglas Chiah, who last year achieved the top mark in Scotland in Higher Physics. Anish is going to Trinity, Cambridge and Douglas to Christ Church, Oxford, both to read Engineering.

Andrew Allan was the top performing candidate nationally in Advanced Higher Technological Studies.

Ronnie Palchauduri gained two A grades in Advanced Higher and three A grades in A level exams. He is going to University College London to study Medicine.

Along with Anish Deshpande three further pupils gained four A grades at Advanced Higher or A Level. Alec O'Donoghue is taking up a place to read Economics at St John's, Cambridge. Craig Sturrock goes to Queens', Cambridge to read Mechanical Engineering.  Calum Macdonald, the other Joint Boys Dux in 2008 goes to Downing, Cambridge to read Law.

Focus on Highers

Many pupils at Hutchesons' proceed directly to Highers without sitting Standard Grade exams. In an increasing number of subjects, pupils sit Intermediate 2 exams. This enables them to explore the subject more broadly and to closely focus on the Higher exams, the results of which affect university entrance.

Promising Futures

Hutchesons' Grammar School has an outstanding record in placing pupils in universities throughout Scotland and the UK, including Oxford and Cambridge - seven pupils have gained places in 2008. In addition, many pupils spend a 'gap' year before proceeding to university. Around 50 pupils have gained university places to study Law or Medicine.