I thought it would interest you to know about another history department which exceeds its achievements - my own.

Not only do we present more students at Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher but, more remarkably, Dumfries Academy is a state comprehensive with a roll of about 700. In terms of presentation, this department must have more students doing history than anywhere else in the country. In 2009, there were 32 candidates signed up for the Advanced Higher class. The Higher presentation for 2009 is approaching 65 students, and the Intermediate 2 presentation in S4 is approaching 90.

Under the leadership of William McGair, “most inspirational teacher” in the 2003 Scottish Education Awards, our department has a long history of success, not only in terms of academic achievement, but in other areas as well. Last summer, more than 120 history students (one-sixth of the school) travelled to New York, and this year the department is taking students to Berlin, Krakow, Budapest and Venice.

So history and academic success can be prevalent in a state comprehensive as well as in the High School of Dundee.

Hugh McMillan, history department, Dumfries Academy.