THEIR exam successes are enough to be shared between two.

 

But Baran and Umut Karakus are putting pupils everywhere to shame with their achievements, sitting six Highers and four Advanced Highers - EACH.

Not only are the identical twins raising their own aspirations, chemistry teacher Dr Mairi Campbell said they are boosting the ambitions of classmates too.

Dr Campbell was Umut's teacher in third year and said she knew he was "extremely bright".

She said: "He would finish very quickly any tasks I set for him and so we had to make a deal with each other in order to keep him out of mischief.

"So, when he was finished with his classwork he would go over to the corner and take a book to read."

Umut is quick to butt in at the mention of "mischief."

He added: "Nothing bad. Just too much talking - I'd get really bored."

Of the pair, Umut is the one who does the most talking but Baran is ready to butt in if he feels Umut has any of the facts wrong.

The twins - dubbed the Karakers by their teachers - always excelled in class but there was no hint of their exceptional science brain until the start of fifth year.

Umut said: "I remember it really clearly. I was sitting in an English class and I was really bored. I turned round to my friend and said, 'I'm going to try to teach myself Higher maths.'

"And that was that."

Self-teaching has been the hallmark of their success.

The pair taught themselves Higher biology without any outside teaching - before learning the school only offers Higher Human Biology and learning that too.

They found out about a qualification not offered by the school - Advanced Higher Mathematics of Mechanics - and taught themselves that as well.

The boys download course materials from the internet and sit the tests under strict exam conditions in class.

Their parents are supportive of their efforts, even though Baran and Umut will be the first in their family to go university.

Umut said: "Our parents worry that we're taking too much on. They moved here with us from Turkey when we were two years old and they had only been to primary school in Turkey, they didn't even have a secondary school education.

"They are quite overprotective, our mum in particular, but they do really want us to do well."

The boys tutor other pupils - for a small fee - and have set up a science club at lunchtime for keen first and second year pupils.

Dr Campbell said the only downside of having two such impressive science pupils is the soaring cost of the equipment bill.

She added: "They are just at the stage where they are having to set up experiments and they are terrible for breaking things.

"The department's costs have certainly gone up since they became so interested in science - but it's nice to know the boys are human and have some flaws."

Baran and Umut are now thinking about the future. Neither wants to stay on for sixth year and they're looking to find an engineering placement that will let them learn while earning money.

They are also keen to study at university in America and are down to the final 175, along with another girl in their class, out of 3700 pupils who applied for a US exchange programme.

In fact, their desire to earn a place at an American university led them to download the relevant exam papers, the SATs.

The tests are based on slightly different learning from that of the UK and so the boys revised at home.

They then sat the tests and gained a score of 800 - out of a possible 800.

Dr Campbell added: "We weren't surprised. They seem to just succeed at everything they try.

"It has been wonderful having having the boys in class because they have raised expectations of other pupils and of the teachers.

"This is one of the brightest fifth years I've every had and I'm now looking at other pupils and thinking, 'should they be doing six Highers?' Or, 'Could they be doing a Higher music or art on the side?'

"Everyone is pushing themselves to see what else can be achieved."

Councillor Soryia Siddique went out to the school to visit the bright pupils. She said: "As a scientist and teacher I am impressed by Baran and Umut Karakus's outstanding aptitude shown in their simultaneous study for six Highers and four Advanced Highers in their fifth year at school.

"Both are showing potential for an outstanding STEM career.

"Glasgow City Council Education department has a focus on raising attainment and positive destinations for STEM subjects and this is a particular positive example of what can be achieved by our Glasgow Schools and pupils.

"Thanks to St.Thomas Aquinas Secondary school and Dr Mairi Campbell for recognising and cultivating the outstanding prospects of Baran and Umut.

"I look forward to hearing about their shining careers ahead."