Pupils across East Renfrewshire are celebrating another year of exceptional exam results, with outstanding achievements highlighting the hard work, dedication and ambition of young people across the area.
The Qualifications Scotland (QS) results highlight strong progress in raising attainment for all learners, including a record-breaking performance at National 5 in S4 and the Council’s best ever result for S5 pupils attaining five or more Highers.
Mark Ratter, Director of Education at East Renfrewshire Council, said: “This has been another exceptional year for East Renfrewshire learners, with record-breaking results highlighting the high aspirations and achievements of our young people. These successes reflect the commitment of pupils, families and staff, as well as our ongoing focus on raising attainment and ensuring every learner is supported well and able to progress. We are proud to see more young people achieving positive outcomes through excellent learning experiences and a curriculum that supports a wide range of talents and ambitions.”
Key achievements include:
- 86% of S4 pupils attained 5 or more passes at National 5 or better – the Council’s best ever result, up 5% from 2025
- 72% of S5 pupils attained 3 or more passes at Higher, up 4% from 2025
- 52% of S5 pupils attained 5 or more passes at Higher – the Council’s best ever result, up 7% from 2025
- 47% of S6 pupils achieved one or more passes at Advanced Higher
- Barrhead High, Mearns Castle High, St Luke’s High and St Ninian’s HIgh achieved outstanding best ever S4 results –increasing from 2025 by 4.7%, 7.7%, 10.5% and 4.3% respectively
- Eastwood High School improved S4 National 5 attainment by 5.5% in 2026.
- Williamwood High and Woodfarm High achieved best ever results for 1 or more Highers in S5 to 86.3% and 91.6% respectively
- St Luke’s High and Woodfarm High achieved their best ever results for 3 or more Highers in S5 to 53% and 82% respectively. Eastwood High also noted an improvement of 4.7% to 67.7% in 2026
- Williamwood High and Woodfarm High achieved their best ever results for 5 or more Highers in S5 to 62% and 64% respectively
- Mearns Castle High and Williamwood High Schools had best ever S6 Advanced Higher results for one or more – up 2.0% and 6.7% respectively
Councillor Andrew Anderson, Convener for Education, said: “Congratulations to all our pupils in S4, S5 and S6 on their outstanding achievements- this is another fantastic year of results for East Renfrewshire, with a number of highest ever performances. I commend them for their hard work and determination and thank their parents and carers, teaching staff and wider school community for the invaluable support and encouragement they provide throughout the year.”
Success was also celebrated at Isobel Mair School, where senior pupils achieved a range of qualifications and awards. Many S6 pupils gained their Adult Learning and Achievement Gold Award through residential and outdoor learning experiences at Auchengillan Outdoor Centre, helping develop confidence, independence and teamwork skills.
Seana Moore, Head Teacher at Isobel Mair School, said: “We are incredibly proud of all our young people and the hard work they have put into achieving their qualifications and awards.”
CASE STUDIES – PICTURES: Jeff Holmes – jeff@jshpix.co
A JOURNEY FROM AFGHANISTAN: Masi Aymaq, 17, (above) and his family relocated from Afghanistan to East Renfrewshire in 2024, with Masi joining Eastwood in S2. At the time of his arrival, he required English as an Additional Language (EAL) support to help him settle into school life, develop his language skills, and access learning across the curriculum. Despite the challenges of adapting to a new country, culture, and education system, Masi demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination. With the support of staff and his own commitment to learning, he quickly began to build confidence and integrate into his classes.
Over the past two years, Masi has made outstanding progress both academically and personally. And his hard work has paid off, as he secured 6 passes at National 5 – just 2 years after arriving in Scotland.
Masi said: “When we had to leave Afghanistan because of the troubles I then didn’t go to school for four years. And when I arrived in Scotland, I didn’t speak or read any English. The school has been really great and I’ve enjoyed being here. The teachers really helped me out and I’m so proud with the results I’ve got.”
YOUNG CARERS EXCEL: Twins Leon and Ruby McDonnell, both 16, (above) are outstanding examples of resilience, dedication, and compassion within the school community. Both are Young Carers for their older brother, who has complex additional support needs.
Throughout their time at school, Leon and Ruby have successfully balanced the responsibilities of supporting their brother with the demands of their own education. Despite the additional challenges that come with their caring roles, they have remained committed to their studies and demonstrated exceptional perseverance.
Alongside their contributions outside the classroom, both Leon and Ruby have achieved academic success – Leon attained eight National 5 passes, including six A grades, while Ruby achieved an exceptional nine A grades from 10 National 5 passes.
Ruby said: “I was delighted with my results and it sets me up well for starting my Highers in the coming year. I would love to work in social work with children with additional support needs because a lot of things I’m good at lend themselves to that kind of work and I think it would be really rewarding as well.”
Leon said: “It was good that both of us were studying at the same time and even though we did quite different subjects, we were able to support each other. We helped keep each other focussed – it was like having a pacemaker in a race.”
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES: Jack Cummings (above) was left in “total shock” after successfully gaining 6 National 5 passes. The 16-year-old Barrhead High pupil has complex learning needs and has proved that this isn’t a barrier to success. Due to Jack’s difficulties, he finds retaining information very hard and reading can also be challenging, as well has dealing with an ADHD diagnosis. Jack said: “I find learning really difficult so I’m proud of what I’ve achieved and am actually still in shock that I’ve got 6 National 5s. I’m now going to do 1 Higher and 2 vocational courses next year and am so thankful to the school for all the support they have given me.”
TOP SCORE: Sports mad Dudek Korabinska (above) has the world at his feet after gaining straight As in his National 5 exams. The 15-year-old Barrhead High pupil, who is a volunteer sports coach as part of the Active Schools network, said: “I was hoping for all As, but you never know until you get the results through. I was delighted and when I told my parents they just started hugging me and were so happy. I’m still not too sure what I want to do for a career, but I really enjoy sports as it’s good to have something outside of all my academic studies to be involved in.”
POLITICAL AMBITION: Gilen Smith, 18, landed 2 As at Higher and a B at Advanced Higher, which adds to the 3 Higher As he achieved in the 2025 exams. The Barrhead High pupil has now got the results to attend Strathclyde University to study Politics and Journalism, with a dream of a career in the diplomatic service. He said: “I’m absolutely over the moon with my results. It’s such a weight off my shoulders. You can only prepare so much but I was really nervous yesterday, so to have got the results I needed is really rewarding. I’m full of gratitude for the support the school gave me – as they really moved mountains for me. I had a lot of personal challenges last year at home and the school was so considerate in the way they supported me. So I was able to split my Highers over two years and being able to space them out has been so beneficial and now I can pursue the career I want to.”
OXFORD BOUND: Ben Mason, 18, from Thornliebank, is jumping for joy after gaining the results he needed to take up his place at Oxford University. Having gained 5As at Higher last year, the Woodfarm High pupil had set his sights on attending the prestigious university to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics. And having gained 3As at Advanced Higher and a further A at Higher this time around, Ben can’t wait to get to Oxford. Ben said: “I decided that I wanted to apply to Oxford and my mum said to me that as long as I was happy she was delighted with what I’d achieved. So even if I hadn’t got in, she was so proud that I’d decided to even apply. But now that I’ve got in it certainly means a lot to my family.” And when looking to the future, Ben already has in mind the direction he wants to take. He said: “I want to work in theatre because it’s something I love. And when I looked into it, most of the artistic directors at London theatres did degrees at Oxbridge, so that certainly influenced my decision as well.”
