School News

Study Leave and Qualifications Scotland exam leave 2026

As the Easter break approaches we want to make sure that you are clear on what is happening for your young person in S4, S5 and S6 regarding study and exam leave. All pupils now have a copy of their individual exam timetable and their Scottish Candidate Number card for the 2026 Qualifications Scotland exam diet. It includes dates, times, rooms and seat numbers. If for any reason your child feels that any of this information is incorrect then we would please ask that they contact Mrs Hamilton as soon as possible so we can rectify any potential issues. Mrs Hamilton can be e-mailed at nicola.hamilton@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Young people and parents will have received their final Senior Phase report for this year by the end of this week which will give a clear picture of progress to date going into this final phase. Young people get their reports in school whilst parents and carers will have received their copy through the Parents Portal.

Study Leave for senior phase pupils will be from Monday 27th April to Monday 1st June 2026 inclusive with the new timetable for anyone returning to school beginning on Tuesday 2nd June 2026. Pupils are not expected to be in school unless they have an assessment or exam, or they are attending support sessions or revising in school in the library. School kit must be worn at all times and pupils must remember to sign in and out of the school for health and safety purposes.

We have made the decision to ask Senior Phase students to remain in school for the first two weeks back to take account of the lost learning time at the beginning of the spring term due to the snow. For some young people exams do start before exam leave as follows:

Wednesday, 22nd April 2026 - Spanish

Thursday, 23rd April 2026 - Geography

Friday, 24th April 2026 - Engineering Science and Business

On these days young people will, of course, be in their exams and should they wish to take the day before for revision purposes then they will be able to do so at home. For all others lessons will continue up to and including Friday, 24th April 2026.

Some pupils may be asked to come into school to complete specific course work or practical elements and we welcome the support of parents and carers to ensure that this happens.

All information related to the upcoming exam session can be found on our Qualifications Scotland webpage, including the link to Your Exams - Qualifications Scotland. This page contains important information and advice for learners to help them prepare for their exams. It includes specific points about what young people need to know about the exam process including QS rules and expectations.

Assemblies for S4 on Friday 17th April 2026 and for S5 & S6 on Wednesday 15th April 2026 will also inform pupils on school procedures and give advice on what to do if any issue arises. The guidance for this changes every year so all pupils should attend so that they have the most up to date information.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in contact with us at mackie.aca@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

e-Sgoil Easter Study Support 2026

Register now

Registration for e-Sgoil's 2026 Easter Study Support programme is now open. This Scottish Government funded provision is focussed on delivering equitable access to all Senior Phase learners and is completely free. Study Support comprises live, interactive webinars and are delivered online by experienced, GTCS registered teachers. Almost 60 different webinar subjects are on offer during the week of 6th-10th April, covering the most popular curricular areas as well as an extensive range of other subjects.  

4287 learners from 321 secondary schools across Scotland signed up for the Easter programme last year. Almost all learners surveyed rated the overall quality of their experience as ‘excellent’, with 98% claiming that the webinars had helped to increase their confidence and reduce their anxiety ahead of final exams.

All webinars are delivered via Microsoft Teams within the Glow Schools intranet. The learner registration form is also held within Glow and, as such, it is important that learners are aware of their Glow credentials before signing up.

You can find out more information at Easter Study Support | e-Sgoil

Easter Athletics Camps at Aberdeen Sports Village

Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club have Athletics Camps running during the Easter school holidays.

The direct booking link can be found at:

https://app.loveadmin.com/EventsLink/93ef4bbc11aab17c0bdabe2155c1efd4.htm

A great opportunity to meet other young people and spend your Easter break learning something new or improving your skills.

Aberdeen University: survey for families who use more than one language

Beyond English: investigating multilinguism in north-east schools

We are researchers from the University of Aberdeen trying to learn more about how schools support multilingual children. The survey should only take around ten minutes to complete, and all responses are treated confidentially. Click here or use the QI code to access the survey

School Fundraising: can you help?

Can you help us fundraise without having to do a thing?!

Mackie Academy Fundraising | Easyfundraising

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Mackie Academy with easyfundraising?

There are over 8,000 retailers on board ready to donate – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.

All you need to do is:

1. Go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk/cause/mackie-academy/ and join for free.

2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.

3. After you’ve checked out, the retailer will donate to Mackie Academy at no extra cost to you whatsoever!

There are no catches or hidden charges and Mackie Academy will be really grateful for your donations.

If you feel you could support the school in this way please scan the QR code opposite or go to the link above. Even a few pennies here and there makes a difference and all monies raised will go directly back into the school to support student focused developments.

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