Anna Reflects on Remarkable Results as she Prepares For The University of St Andrews

Anna S (class of 2026), who has been part of the Albyn community for six years, has secured excellent results that have earned her a place at the University of St Andrews, where she will study History,  a subject she has developed a passion for throughout her time at the school.

Anna first joined Albyn in Primary 6 in 2018 before moving abroad with her family. After spending several years in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she attended the British School Jakarta and studied International GCSEs, she returned to Scotland in S4 and joined Albyn once again. The transition was far from straightforward, as she entered the Scottish education system midway through her National 5 courses.

Reflecting on receiving her results this week, Anna said: "I was very pleased to get my results and see how far I've come over the years. When I came back in S4 I was quite shy and nervous, and totally new to the Scottish system. To realise that I've now achieved Advanced Highers is amazing. It was so nice to see that all the work and dedication I'd put in had actually paid off."

Although moving between education systems was challenging, Anna believes the experience helped her become a more independent learner and equipped her with valuable skills for the future.

"My GCSEs prepared me in ways I hadn't expected," she explained. "I had to work twice as hard but it forced me to become a more independent learner. It prepared me for Advanced Highers and writing dissertations. It was stressful, but the skills I developed through that change are ones I'll carry with me for life."

Returning to Scotland also brought an unexpected culture shock, but Anna credits the support of the Albyn community for helping her settle back in.

"The change was more drastic than I expected," she said. "It's the support you have that helps you through. I found people who shared my hobbies, and joining clubs was a big part of that. Instead of focusing on the differences, I looked for similarities, and I've been building on that ever since."

Among her achievements, Anna is particularly proud of earning an A in Advanced Higher History, the subject that has inspired her future studies.

"History is something I've loved ever since S1," she said. "This year, especially the Russian history section, I found a real passion for what I was learning. It taught me how to analyse information, communicate my ideas and build strong arguments. Those are skills I'll always be grateful for learning here."

Alongside her Advanced Higher success, Anna also achieved straight A grades in her Highers in Human Biology, English, Sociology, History and Geography.

As she prepares to begin the next chapter at the University of St Andrews, Anna is looking forward to continuing her academic journey.

"I'm very excited to study History at university. It's something I genuinely want to pursue, and I know the skills I've developed at Albyn will help me as I move forward."

Anna also offered some advice to younger pupils preparing for their own exams...

"Find a genuine interest in what you're studying and never do things half-heartedly. Once you find that curiosity and willingness to learn, everything becomes so much easier. There will still be deadlines and late nights studying, but knowing that what you're learning has a purpose makes all the difference."

Looking back on her achievements, Anna says receiving her results has been an important opportunity to reflect.

"It's easy to lose sight of how far you've come when life moves so quickly. Today is a reminder to reflect on all the hard work that's gone into getting here, celebrate how far I've come, and keep looking ahead to where I can continue to improve."

Everyone at Albyn School congratulates Anna on her fantastic achievements and wishes her every success as she begins her studies at the University of St Andrews.