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.
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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
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Learn what pupils and parents really think of this school, along with our expert opinion on the headteacher’s leadership style, the school’s academic results and facilities, the focus on pastoral care, and the range of extra-curricular activities.

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

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