St Margaret’s Invites School Community to Join 60 Mile Fundraising Challenge

Last weekend, Headteacher, Anna Tomlinson, and teacher of Chemistry, Judith Robson, were joined by former pupils, current families, and friends of St Margaret’s School for Girls to complete the first two stages of the St Margaret’s Way in Fife. The staff set themselves the challenge of completing the 60-mile pilgrimage route over the 2024/25 school year to raise money for the school’s means-tested Bursary Programme, which supports children from lower income families.

The significance of the walk itself should not be lost on the reader. ‘The St Margaret’s Way is the only pilgrimage route in Scotland named after a woman,’ says Tomlinson. ‘As our school was also named after her, it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to link our history with this fundraising challenge. Queen Margaret of Scotland was a pioneering woman in her own time, and as a school community today, we are committed to empowering young women to make a difference in the world.’

St Margaret’s School for Girls is notable for variety of reasons: beyond consistent academic excellence, it is both the oldest all-through girls’ school in Scotland, and the only girls’ school in the north east of Scotland. Queen Margaret of Scotland, canonised as St Margaret, is remembered for her extensive charitable works, and it is her example that the St Margaret’s School community endeavoured to imitate in the undertaking of this walk. ‘In this challenge we will follow the way of Queen Margaret of Scotland to both honour her and her work with children and young people,’ says Robson.

Eagle-eyed readers will note that there is still one third of the walk to be undertaken – the plan is for this to be completed on Saturday 22nd March, during Women’s History Month. And by all accounts, the Tomlinson, Robson and the rest of the St Margaret’s community can’t wait.

‘Despite the wet weather on day one,’ confirms Robson,’we woke to sunshine on day two and met with St Margaret’s families and friends to join us on our way from South Queensferry, across the Forth Road Bridge and on to the ancient coastal path. The chat and friendship continued to grow as we made our way along the route, and we made great memories to see us all through to the next leg of the challenge in the spring.’

For more information about the walk and opportunities offered by St Margaret’s School for Girls visit www.st-margaret.aberdeen.sch.uk.