Noting good exam results and a VIP visit

The photo shows the four pupils who achieved five A grades at Higher.

Message from the Rector - I would like to welcome pupils back for the new session, and to extend a particular welcome to all the new S1 pupils who have now joined us.

Pupils looked very smart at the start of term in their uniforms and I hope to see this continuing throughout the year.

The Nicolson Institute’s SQA exam results for 2016 were very good, and reflect the hard work and diligence of many of our senior pupils.

In last year’s S4, 100% of pupils completed the National 4 examinations, 88% passed National 5 (when compared with a national average of 79%) and 83% of S5 and S6 pupils passed their Higher examinations (higher than the national average of 77%).

As well as highlighting the fact that 34 pupils achieved five Highers, and 55 pupils passed four Highers, I would like to congratulate the four pupils who obtained five Highers, all at Grade A.

We hope that these successes will inspire the new classes in the senior phase as they work towards their important examinations.

VIP visit

This week the school hosted Mr John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. After a tour of the school he visited a Gaelic-medium History classroom and talked to pupils and staff, including student and probationary teachers.

Swimming success - The Nicolson Institute was represented recently for the first time, at the Scottish Schools Swimming Relay Championships.

Sarah Murray, Lucie Doig, Katie Murray and Isla Budge (S4) competed in Open Individual Medleys and Freestyle Relays at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.

They swam extremely well as a team and gained valuable experience at a national competition against schools from all over Scotland.

History walks - History pupils have been going for walks around Stornoway to learn about the history of the town.

The teachers told the students about the history of some of the buildings and the students had to find out information themselves in order to complete a quiz.