A PUPIL who settled in Scotland from Pakistan just two years ago has achieved remarkable results despite not having English as her first language.
Saira Baig, 16, a pupil from Woodfarm High School in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, achieved six A grades at National 5 as well as an A in Higher Urdu.
She said: “I am really pleased with my results and would like to thank my parents and all those teachers who supported and encouraged me through difficult times and motivated me to keep going.
“This success means such a lot and is hopefully the first step towards achieving my ambition of studying medicine at Glasgow University."
Saira dedicated her success to everyone who helped here including the Punjab School she attended in Lahore, Pakistan, who worked hard to improve her English.
Nathan Edgar, 17, another pupil from Woodfarm High School, was also celebrating after looking set to realise his dream of studying medicine after achieving the 5 A grades he needed at Higher.
He said: “I’m really pleased all the hard work has paid off and I am so grateful to all the staff at Woodfarm who have been so enthusiastic and supportive throughout my studies."
Nathan is heading off to Malawi in 10 days to undertake a gruelling trek by bike, kayak and on foot in aid of malaria prevention.
In Glasgow Clement Bakina, 18, who has just finished sixth year at Shawlands Academy, in Glasgow, also wants to apply for medicine after a remarkable journey from the troubled African country of Rwanda.
He said: "Last year I got four A grades and a B in my Highers and this year I have achieved two As in Advance Higher chemistry and Biology and an A in Higher music.
He wants to take a gap year to volunteer in care homes before applying for medicine.
Meanwhile, Sophie Haldane, 16, also from Shawlands Academy, who is now in S6, achieved the five A grades had been hoping for at Higher to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University next year.
She said: "I've always thought about whether I could do it and I put an application for the summer school and it brought a lot of belief that I could do it."
Sixth-year pupils studying at Glasgow Caledonian University’s pioneering Advanced Higher Hub were celebrating after achieving an outstanding pass rate of 91 per cent during the third year of the programme, an even higher result than the 90 per cent achieved last year.
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