Founded in 1846, it is the only all-through girls' schools in the north east of Scotland. It occupies a pleasant landscaped site in the west end of Aberdeen, based on two large 19th-century buildings with other recent additions. Playing fields are two miles away. An integrated education is provided from nursery to the sixth year. A school with a family atmosphere, small enough to care about the individual but large enough to provide a full and varied curriculum. Examination results are very good and girls are prepared well to play their part in society. They are encouraged to aim high, assume responsibility and have fun whilst showing courtesy and self-discipline. There are lively music, drama and art departments. A good range of sports is offered and high standards are achieved. A wide variety of extra-curricular activities is offered and debating is a particular strength.

Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 370 day pupils. Senior department 12-18, 197 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 5, 11, 12. Own test and interview. No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry, 20% senior intake.

Some scholarships and bursaries are available. Parents are expected to buy some textbooks. School lunches are organised by, and payment made direct to, the PTA.

Head Mistress: Mrs Anne Everest, in post from 2007. Educated at Hull University (Latin and Greek). Previously Deputy Head at Robert Gordon College. Teaching staff: 31 full time, 16 part time. Annual turnover 1%.

S-grade: On average, 40 pupils in fourth year: all passed 8 subjects. Highers: 33 in fifth year: 71% passed in 5 subjects. Advanced highers: 20 in sixth year.

99% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course. 43% take courses in science and engineering, 27% in humanities and social sciences, 13% in business subjects, 17% in other vocational subjects eg music, hotel management.

S-grades, Intermediate, Highers and Advanced Highers. 17 subjects offered. Vocational: Work experience compulsory; also offers RSA level 1 and 2 word processing and modules in PE and food technology. Special provision: Learning support (4 mornings per week). Dyslexic testing available and exam provision made; magnifiers provided for visually handicapped; provision for Asperger's Syndrome. Languages: French (compulsory from age 5) and German, both offered at S-grade, Higher and Advanced Higher; also Italian at Higher in sixth. Exchange visits to France. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum (eg material from internet for all subjects; CAD in art). 100 computers for pupil use (access all day), all networked and with email and internet access. Most pupils take a recognised IT qualification.

Music: 60% of pupils learn one or more musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 6 musical groups including choirs, orchestras, woodwind, recorder. Pupils have played with the Scottish Children's Orchestra, Scottish National Repertoire Orchestra, regularly selected for regional orchestra. Drama and dance: Both offered (including Highland dancing, modern dance). S-grade and Higher drama. Some pupils are involved in school and house/other productions. Recent productions include The Crucible and Annie Get Your Gun; girls regularly act with local dramatic companies and act and dance with visiting theatre. Art and design: On average, 8 take S-grade, 6 Higher, 2 Advanced Higher. Pupils' works selected for annual Scottish independent schools art exhibition, Picture of the Month.

Sport: Hockey, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, badminton, swimming compulsory. Optional: volleyball, netball, squash, skiing, basketball, cross-country, golf, rowing, horse riding and curling. RLSS exams may be taken. Pupils selected for district hockey teams and national trials; successes at Scottish Schools' Championship in swimming and athletics. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Pupils help with Riding for the Disabled and with handicapped children. Up to 30 clubs, eg debating/public-speaking, gym, Young Enterprise, Young Investigators, Scottish country dancing, choi kwang do, Scripture Union, computer, maths, chess.

Uniform: Uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses for sport. Prefects, head girl, senior prefect and house captains elected by the senior pupils and staff. Pupil Council. Religion: Compulsory attendance at daily inter-denominational assembly. Social: Regular debating, public-speaking and sporting fixtures held with local schools; also occasional quiz competitions; instrumentalists participate with other Grampian schools. Biennial ski trip (Europe/USA), cruises (Mediterranean), French visits, German exchange, choir and orchestra (Europe, USA); links with other St Margaret's schools worldwide. Pupils allowed to drive own car to school (but not park in grounds). Packed lunch. Tuck shop and uniform sales. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Pupils failing to produce homework would not expect any punishment on the first occasion; any pupil caught smoking cannabis on the premises would expect expulsion following an investigation.