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Reviewed

Balfron High School

State school · Balfron, G63 0PW
  • Secondary
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 12-18
  • 884 pupils
  • Choir school
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

Good all-rounder, highly regarded by locals, that prides itself on inclusiveness. Superbly located for outdoor pursuits and has fab sports facilities as well as impressive SEN provision – would be worth moving to for sporty kids or those with additional support needs.

Why read our school review?

Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
884 ·
Sixth form numbers
251 ·
Religion
Non-denom
Local authority
Stirling Council

Headteacher

Head teacher

Ms Elaine Bannatyne

Since 2013, Elaine Bannatyne (40s), previously depute head at Bearsden Academy for seven years and principal teacher of guidance prior to that. Has also been assistant principal teacher of guidance and PE teacher at Greenock High in Inverclyde. BEd


Entrance

Catchment covers a wide rural area and eight local primary schools in Balfron, Killearn, Kippen, Fintry, Drymen, Strathblane, Milton of Buchanan and Buchlyvie. Spaces are available and placing requests are accepted for non-catchment children. One


Exit

Few leave after National grades; around 90 per cent stay for Highers of whom 70 per cent will stay till S6. Most to Scottish universities - Edinburgh top of the pops and rest to a broad spectrum mainly across Scotland. Odd ones to Oxbridge.


Latest results

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Teaching & learning

Embraces Holyrood’s Curriculum for Excellence and broad general education with subjects including business technology and business enterprise. Pupils narrow subjects down at end of S3, sitting six National 5s in S4. School not forthcoming with exam


Learning support & SEN

Impressive support for learning team (including principal teacher and three specialist teachers). Young people are supported in class, in small target groups or on a one-to-one basis by teachers and five support for learning assistants. School has a


Arts & extracurricular

Plenty of clubs (many at lunchtime), including debating, astronomy, chess and science, which is popular with younger pupils; more unusual after-school clubs include sailing and American football.

Traditionally lacking in the arts, the schools is


Sport

Hanging in the entrance, huge boards lists ‘internationals’, ie pupils who compete internationally, predominantly in sport, but also in the arts too; this is a school that’s immensely proud of its sporting achievements. First port of call on our


Ethos & heritage

Opened in 2001, a state-of-the art, modern comprehensive with excellent leisure facilities, set at the foot of the Campsie Fells. Large classrooms (some with iPads or Chromebooks) run off the main open-plan corridors, which all have a dedicated area


Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

Form class leaders are the first port of call for support in S1–S5, with principal teachers at the ready in S6 to help with UCAS applications. Learning support teachers and assistants assist in mainstream classrooms but also give specialist tuition


Pupils & parents

S6 students heavily involved in full report parents’ evenings, where they ‘help to keep things running smoothly’, and serve tea and coffee. Parents have a one-to-one meeting with the form class leader annually.

Backgrounds quite mixed (not just

884
Number of pupils

The last word

Good all-rounder, highly regarded by locals, that prides itself on inclusiveness. Superbly located for outdoor pursuits and has fab sports facilities as well as impressive SEN provision – would be worth moving to for sporty kids or those with

This school has not provided any information yet

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Contact the school

Address

Roman Road
Balfron
G63 0PW
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Have you considered?

School data & information Balfron High School Roman Road, Balfron, G63 0PW
884 Pupil numbers
421/463 Pupil numbers boy/girls split
251 Sixth form numbers

Entry and exit data

We do not have entry or exit data for pupils at this school. Find out more


SEN overview

Balfron High School is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

The whole school is committed to supporting pupils with ASN. WE have strong and productive links with ASN outreach team. This is a dyslexia friendly school with a staff who work hard to personalise learning and plan for the individual needs of pupils.

Updated Jan 2020

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills Yes
HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs Yes
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing Yes
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes Yes
PD - Physical Disability Yes
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health Yes
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired Yes
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