Founded in 1878, it occupies a fine site with very handsome buildings in a pleasant urban residential area. The senior school, junior school and nursery are all on one site. There are excellent modern facilities, including a well-stocked new library; ample playing fields are three-quarters of a mile away. The school has been co-educational since 1998 and there are now girls at all ages. The school's ultimate priority is pupils' individual achievement in the context of a rich all-round education. Its aim is to draw on its history and traditional values to produce young people who are well qualified, confident, decent and equipped to deal with all aspects of life. There is a big range of sports and games (the school has produced a large number of international and county representatives) and of activities. There is a flourishing CCF and considerable emphasis on outdoor pursuits.
Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 617 day pupils (364 boys, 253 girls). Junior department 3-11, 232 pupils. Senior department 11-18, 385 pupils. Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 5, 11 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth form entry, level 3 in 5 S-grades. Must have academic ability and fluent English; no religious requirements. State school entry 90%-95% of senior intake.
Scholarship medals and prizes. Means-tested support for fees (10%-100% of fees) available in both junior and senior school (16% of current S1 pupils receives a bursary). Parents not expected to pay for textbooks; music lessons extra.
Rector: Mrs Lesley Douglas, in post from 2009. Educated at the Edinburgh University. Previously Deputy Head at Mary Erskine School, Assistant Rector at Glasgow High School. Teaching staff: 50 full time. Annual turnover 4%. Average age 35.
S-grade: 60 pupils in S-grade year. 98% pass at S-grade (grade 1-3). Highers: 56 in Higher year. 89% pass at H-grade (grades A-C). Pupils take a mixture of Intermediates, Highers and Advanced Highers.
95+% of sixth form leavers go on to higher or further education, 3% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 30% in science and engineering, 5% in law, 30% in humanities and social sciences, 5% in art and design, 15% in other vocational subjects such as accountancy, agriculture, pharmacology, business studies, computer studies.
S-grades, Intermediates, Highers and Advanced Highers. 20 subjects offered. Higher Year: Pupils take a mixture of Intermediates, Highers and Advanced Highers. Vocational: Work shadowing; enterprise education. Special provision: Help for mild dyslexics, learning support trained staff. Languages: French (taught from age 5), Spanish and German offered to S-grade, Higher and AH-level. Regular continental exchanges and visits. ICT: 4 computing suites.
Music: All learn instruments in class (keyboards, recorder, guitar) and some 25% also have private lessons; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups include choirs, orchestras, ensembles, jazz, rock. Drama and dance: Both offered. Speech and drama exams offered. Art and design: Popular subject. Many successes in external competitions, eg Glasgow art galleries competitions and Scottish independent schools art competition.
Sport: Rugby, cricket, athletics, hockey, tennis principal team games. Also badminton, golf, shooting, curling, basketball, volleyball, swimming, skiing, climbing, hill walking, soccer, fencing, cross-country, squash, sailing, gliding, windsurfing, canoeing. County, regional and national representatives in various sports. Activities: CCF compulsory for 1 year at age 14, optional thereafter; Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme optional. Up to 30 clubs, including various sports clubs, drama, music, ceilidh, ballet, shooting, aikido, Young Enterprise, debating.
Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, captains of school, captains of house and house prefects, appointed by the Rector. Trips abroad include organised sports tours; trips to Kenya, Spain etc; CCF camps; some exchanges. Pupils allowed to bring own car to school. Meals self-service. School tuck shop.
School's approach is to have clear rules, firm expectations, and an emphasis on developing self-discipline within well-defined framework.
is run by Elaine Solman, Development Manager, c/o the school.
Sir Thomas Risk (Governor of Bank of Scotland); Sir Hugh Fraser (House of Fraser); Colin Mackay (TV political commentator) Lord (Alan) Rodger (Lord Advocate).
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