The High School of Glasgow is a vibrant, caring and high-achieving co-educational day school, which has been part of Glasgow’s story since the 12th century and is the oldest continuous school in Scotland. Its present incarnation came into being in 1976 following a merger involving the Former Pupil Club of the High School, then a selective state grammar school, and Drewsteignton School in Bearsden.
Buildings. The Senior School occupies modern purpose-built buildings at Anniesland on the western outskirts of the city immediately adjacent to 23 acres of playing fields. The Junior School is in the extended and modernised former Drewsteignton School buildings in Bearsden about three miles away. New facilities opened during the last few years include a purpose-built Science extension, a water-based artificial pitch and 3G multi-sports area, a Junior School extension, a Drama Studio, a Refectory, a Fitness Centre, a Grandstand and an Information and Communications Technology building, and in 2017 a Health and Wellbeing Centre.
Organisation. The School is a day school with 906 boys and girls. The Junior School, which includes a pre-school Kindergarten, has 267 pupils (aged 3–10). Primary 7 pupils are included in the Senior School which has 639 pupils (aged 11–18). A general curriculum is followed until the Third Year of the Senior School when, with the Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations in view, a measure of choice is introduced. In Fifth Year, Higher examinations are taken and in Sixth Year, courses for Advanced Highers are offered. While the majority of pupils are aiming for the Scottish universities, places are regularly gained at Oxford, Cambridge and other English universities.
Throughout the School, time is allocated to Art, Music, Personal, Social and Health Education, Physical Education and Religion and Philosophy. All pupils will also take courses in Computing Studies, Drama and Health and Food Technology at various stages in their school careers.
Games. The main sports are hockey, rugby, athletics, cricket, tennis and swimming. Pupils participate in a wide variety of other sports, including badminton, basketball, netball, football, volleyball, golf, cross-country running and skiing.
Activities. Pupils are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. Clubs and societies include debating, Scripture Union groups, computer, table tennis, chess, art, bridge, chemistry, electronics, drama and film clubs. Pupils take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and the Young Enterprise Scheme, and parties regularly go on tour. There are choirs, orchestras, jazz and concert bands and a pipe band and tuition in Instrumental Music is arranged as requested. Each year there are several concerts and dramatic productions. The Chamber Choir was BBC Songs of Praise Senior School Choir of the Year 2013.
Admission. Entrance tests and interviews are held in January. The principal points of entry are at Kindergarten (age 3–4), Junior 1 (age 5), Transitus (age 11) and First Year (age 12) but pupils are taken in at other stages as vacancies occur.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Junior School: £4,513–£5,269; Senior School: £5,335–£5,553.
Bursaries. The School operates a Bursary Fund to give assistance with fees in the Senior School in cases of need.
Former Pupils’ Club. The Glasgow High School Club Limited is the former pupils’ association of the old and new High Schools. Former pupils all over the world maintain an interest in the life and work of the School. Secretary: Murdoch C Beaton, LLB.
Charitable status. The High School of Glasgow Limited is a Registered Charity, number SC014768. It is a recognised educational charity.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body:
Honorary President: Mr Raymond Williamson
Chair: J G Williamson
Vice Chair: Mrs Karen Trickett, MA Hons
DR N Crick, BA Hons, MA, DPhil
P B Gray
Dr M N Gupta, BSc Hons, MBChB, MD, FRCP
Mr Michael Hutcheson, MA Hons, CA
Mr S C Miller, WS, LLB Hons, Dip L
Mr S Pengelley, BA, PGCE
Mrs Julie Rose, BEd
Mr N Watson
Mr S Wilson, BComm Hons
Mr Guy Worthington, MSc, BA Hons, PGCE
Adviser to the Board: Professor Sir V A Muscatelli, MA Hons, PhD, FRSE, FRSA
Rector: J O’Neill, MA Hons, PGCE Dist
Head of Senior School: K J A Robertson, BSc Hons
Deputy Heads:
Mrs S Sangster, BEd Hons
P Graham, BSc Hons
I S Leighton, BSc Hons
Staff:
* Head of Department
† House Staff
Art:
*Mrs C J Bell, BA Hons
Miss N J Henderson, BDes
Mrs J Stewart, BA Hons
Classics:
*Mr J Bullen, BA Hons
Mrs C Bell, MA Hons
Mrs J Deeks-Nisbet, BA Hons
Computer Studies:
*Mrs S E Sterkenburg, BSc Hons, PgC MLE
Mr K Kyle, Masters in Data Analytics, BA, PGDE
I R Purdie, BSc Hons
Economics and Business Studies:
*Mrs J Clark, BA Hons, PGCE, MBA
Mr P Graham, BSc Hons
C Hutchison, BA Hons
English:
*Mr D Muir, BA, MLitt, PGDE
Miss S E A Black, MA, PGDE
Mr C Dean, MA (Arts) Ord, PGDE
†P D C Ford, MA Hons
Mrs S de Groot, MA Hons
Ms K Head, PGDE
Mrs N Lawther, MA Hons, MPhil
T Lyons, MA Hons
Miss K Melville, BA Hons
Mrs A Viswanathan, MA Hons (Drama)
Geography and Modern Studies:
*Miss N L Cowan, MA Hons
Mr D Begley, MA, MEd, PGDE
Mr I S Leighton, BSc Hons
Mrs K Rinaldi, MA Hons
Mr C Totten, BSc Hons
Health and Food Technology:
*Miss K D Moore, BA Hons
Mrs J Thomson, BA, PGCE
History:
*Mr C MacKay, BA Hons
Ms G A C Clare, MA Hons
Miss E McGrath, PGDE, MLitt, MA Hons
†Miss N Sutherland, MA Hons
Learning Support:
*Mrs J Dougall, MA Hons
Mrs S de Groot, MA Hons
Mrs D McCluskey, BSc Hons
Mrs S Mitchell, BEd Hons
†Mrs R Owen, BEd Hons
Mathematics:
*Mrs C V M Anderson, BSc Hons
Mrs J B Armstrong, BSc Hons
Mrs E Clark, BSc Hons
D K Hamilton, BSc Hons, PhD
†T A Lockyer, LLB
J G MacCorquodale, BSc Hons
D R MacGregor, BSc Hons
Mrs H S Mills, MEng
Mrs G Wimpenny, BSc, PGDE
Modern Languages:
*Mr N F Campbell, MA Hons, LLB
Mrs K J Bhatia, BA Hons
Mrs A M T Drapeau-Magee, L-ès-L, M-ès-L
Mrs K Evans, MA Hons (*Careers)
Mrs K McCartney, MA Hons
Mrs V MacCorquodale, MA Hons
Ms Y Song, PGDE
†Mrs M B Walker, BA Hons
Music:
*Mrs S C Stuart, MA Hons/Mus Oxon, MSt Oxon, PG Adv Dip RCM
Mr L D Birch, BA Hons, LRAM, DRSAMD
Mr B Docherty, DRSAM
Mr R Hunter, BMus, PGDE
Mr G A Morris, BA, PGCE
Mr B Parker, BMus
Religion & Philosophy:
*Ms G A C Clare, MA Hons
Mrs Stacey Greenlay, MEd
Science:
N M E Dougall, BSc Hons, MSc, (*Biology)
Dr N J Penman, BSc Hons, PhD (*Chemistry)
Dr D R Went, MSc, PhD (*Physics)
Mr J Campion, BSc Hons
Dr J Clark, PGDE, Doctor of Philosophy for Research, Master of Chemistry
Mrs J Lewis, PGCE
Dr M McKie, BSc Hons, PhD
Mrs A E McNeil, BSc Hons, MSc
†Mrs M R Peek, MSc
Mr K J A Robertson, BSc Hons
Mr I J Smith, BSc Hons, Cert Ed
Sport and Physical Education:
*Mr P J Smith, BEd Hons
Mrs R Bruce, BSc Hons
Mrs A Cox, BEd Hons (*Girls’ PE)
Mrs S Dougan, BEd Hons
K F FitzGerald, BSc Hons
F J Gillies, BSc Hons
Ms J Hood, BEd Hons
G Hunter, BSc Hons
Mr M Lang
†S Leggat, BEd Hons
J McCarthy, BEd Hons
Mrs D McCluskey, BSc Hons
Miss S McGilverary
Mrs S Mitchell, BEd Hons
Mrs R Owen, BEd Hons
Mrs S Sangster, BEd Hons
Junior School Staff:
Head Teacher: Miss H Fuller, BEd Hons
Mrs G Morrans, BEd Hons (Deputy Head)
Mrs M Pollock, BA Hons, PG Dip Mus, MMus (Deputy Head)
Miss C Bertram, BA Hons
Miss C E Carnall, BMus, MA Hons (Music)
Mrs L Cowan, BEd Hons
Mr B Docherty, DRSAM
Mrs A M T Drapeau-Magee, L-ès-L, M-ès-L (French)
Miss A Downie
Mrs M Duncan, SVQ3 Social Services
Mrs H M Eustace, BEd Hons
Mrs S A Foster, MA Hons
Miss K Hallam, BEd Hons
Mrs L A Lambie, BEd Hons
Mrs N Livingston, BEd Hons
Mrs K McCartney, MA Hons
Mrs E J McConechy, BEd Hons
Mrs J MacLaren, BEd Hons, MA Hons Cert (Principal Teacher)
Miss R McLean, MA
Mrs C Mitchell, BLE Hons
Mrs M I Moreland, DCE, AEE
Ms C Nicol, MEd, PGDE
Ms K Nolan, PGDE, BA
Miss I Rashid, BA Hons
Mrs G Reid, MA Hons (Principal Teacher)
Mrs E Robertson-Sword, PGDE, BA Hons
Mrs P Rooney, MA Hons, Dip SfL (Principal Teacher)
Miss R Saunders, BEd Hons
Mrs S Spinks, MA Hons
Mrs J Steel, BSc Hons
Miss S Tonge, MSc, PGCE, BA Hons
Chief Operating Officer: Mr S Hanif, LLB, DipLP, CA
Rector’s PA: Miss P McConnell