THE HIGH SCHOOL o f G l a s g o w PROSPECTUS
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PURPOSE-BUILT f a c i l i t i e s 4 The best possible facilities and equipment for pupils and staff LOCATIONS The Junior School is situated in Old Bearsden around a refurbished and modernised Victorian building to which attractive extensions have been added. The accommodation includes a gymnasium, a library, a multi-purpose hall, music rooms, up-to-date computing equipment in every classroom and a special suite for the pre-school Kindergarten. The Senior School is housed in modern, purpose-built accommodation at Anniesland on the north-western outskirts of the city beside extensive playing fields, which include an artificial grass pitch for hockey and tennis. There are very good bus and train services and the nearby Clyde Tunnel and Clydeside Expressway provide easy access. In addition to secondary school pupils, the Senior School houses Transitus classes (equivalent to Primary 7). Facilities are extensive. We have modern science facilities with twelve laboratories, including three dedicated to sixth year project work, and purpose-built ICT facilities incorporating four computing laboratories. The art department has a gallery and a ceramics area. For music we have two large, well-equipped rooms plus a suite of practice rooms. As well as a drama studio, the split-level assembly hall not only accommodates the whole school for morning assembly but also serves as a concert hall and theatre. In addition to our all-purpose lecture theatre and library we have designated areas for business studies and home economics. Sixth formers also have their own space by way of a common room. Finally, we have an excellent sports complex with a multi-gym fitness centre and a grandstand containing a refectory.
HOME AND SCHOOL We have a very active Home and School Association through which we aim to foster co-operation between parents and teachers and promote the welfare of the School. The Association provides a valuable forum for discussion on matters of interest or concern to parents and teachers. It also arranges social events for the whole school community. Parents evenings are held regularly so that they can meet teachers and discuss their children s progress. Teachers issue detailed reports twice a year. We encourage parents to contact us at any time if they or their children have any worries or questions. Positive and productive partnerships with parents COMMUNITY and partnership 5
We aim to create a climate of openness which will benefit pupils, parents and staff 6
VALUES a n d e t h o s PROMOTING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS We recognise the individuality of each and every one of our pupils and encourage everyone in our community to appreciate the qualities of others. Our aim is to ensure that every pupil is happy at school. To that end our pupils are encouraged to participate fully in school life, to co-operate with others and to develop friendships. While it is widely recognised that the High School has a very happy atmosphere, we are not complacent and are determined to do everything in our power to maintain it. As part of our programme of Personal and Social Education throughout the School, we encourage children to consider carefully how they treat others. We encourage parents to contact a member of staff immediately if they have any concerns about their child s welfare and happiness at school. The personal and social education programme, house tutorials and form periods seek to help pupils appreciate the value of positive relationships and provide ample opportunities for appropriate discussion. Very positive and caring ethos 7
CARE and consideration DISCIPLINE We enjoy a well-ordered and happy community where pupils are encouraged to respect the needs of the community. We try to keep specific rules to the minimum. At the Senior School, prefects play an important part in school life, leading various activities and helping to set a good example. Responsibility for the Encouragement of tolerance and mutual respect maintenance of high standards of work and conduct is shared by all members of staff. For serious or persistent shortcomings in academic work or behaviour Senior School pupils may be detained after school. If and when need arises, the progress of pupils is monitored by the use of report cards which are signed by teachers after each period and by parents each evening. House Staff are the first point of contact and any concerns about pupils in their charge are referred to them. Members of the School Management Team provide guidance for particular year groups and pupils are referred to them should problems arise. If ever there are serious concerns about a pupil, parents are informed and invited to discuss the situation. If a pupil s general progress or conduct is very unsatisfactory and detrimental to the School s ethos, the Rector may, in the last resort, request that the pupil be withdrawn from the School. 8
THE JUNIOR SCHOOL The Junior School benefits from its own Head Teacher, Mrs. Karen Waugh, who has two children of her own. Mrs. Waugh went to Hutchesons Girls Grammar School. She gained a Diploma in Primary Education at Jordanhill College followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree at the Open University. She then taught at Carlibar, Crookfur and Torrance Primary Schools before becoming Assistant Head Teacher, Depute Head Teacher and Acting Head Teacher at Carolside Primary School. She was appointed Head Teacher of Mearns Primary School in 1991 before joining the High School in August 2001. She assists as an Associate Assessor with Her Majesty s Inspectorate of Education. The Junior School has approximately 380 children. It consists of a one-year Kindergarten, which children join between the ages of 3 1 /2 and 4 1 /2, and Junior 1 to Junior 6 classes. The Kindergarten, which is the principal entry point to the Junior School, accommodates just over fifty children in a spacious building designed especially for them. MUTUAL r e s p e c t 9
The many varied activities are intended to stimulate children, broaden the range of their learning experience and help them to become confident and enthusiastic learners 10
Our aim at the Junior School is to provide a happy, caring and safe environment in which each pupil is encouraged to develop according to his or her own ability and level of maturity. The many varied activities are intended to stimulate pupils, broaden the range of their learning experience and help them to develop their capabilities as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. Our Kindergarten curriculum refers to a framework of planned learning experiences based on different aspects of children s development and learning. This helps staff plan activities and experiences which promote the children s development in five key areas. These are Emotional, Personal and Social Development; Communication and Language; Knowledge and Understanding of the World; Expressive and Aesthetic Development; Physical Development and Movement. We provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities, which includes choirs, an orchestra, various instrumental groups, a trip to York for Junior 5 pupils and an adventure week for Junior 6 pupils. There are also Art, Badminton, Bridge, Chess, Football, Internet, Science, Skiing, Scripture Union and Tennis extra-curricular clubs. Our pupils regularly perform in concerts and shows. Older pupils are given the opportunity to compete in district and national sporting competitions and to participate in matches against other schools. Our Junior School curriculum is organised in eight key areas with each making its own unique contribution towards developing the skills of individual pupils. These curriculum areas are: Mathematics; Languages (English and French); Sciences; Social Studies; Expressive Arts (art, drama and music); Health and Wellbeing (including physical education); Technologies (including computer studies); Religious and Moral Education. 11
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EXCELLENCE in the classroom THE SENIOR SCHOOL CURRICULUM Our Senior School curriculum is designed to challenge and stimulate pupils, to offer a broad, balanced education without excessive specialisation and to provide an academic framework that allows the development of individual strengths. In Transitus, First and Second Years pupils follow a common course, which includes a wide range of subjects. For each year group, time is allocated to personal and social education, physical education and religion & philosophy. High School pupils performances in national examinations have been consistently amongst the very best in Scotland for many years and we are committed to maintaining these excellent academic standards In Third Year, courses leading to Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations are introduced and pupils are presented with a considerable choice of subjects. All choices must include English, Mathematics, a foreign language, a science subject and a social science. Higher Examinations are taken in Fifth Year and normally pupils take five subjects from the many on offer. Homework plays an important part in the development of the self-discipline and study skills necessary for academic progress. Time spent on homework will vary from about one hour each evening in Transitus to several hours in the most senior years. 13
In Sixth Year, we offer Advanced Highers. Here the emphasis is on independent study, forming a bridge between school and university. Additional Higher subjects may also be taken, along with a selection of National Unit short courses. Sixth Year pupils make a valuable contribution to the life of the School by running clubs for younger pupils, taking responsibility within the House System and, as prefects, sharing in the day-to-day running of the School. They invariably benefit from these exciting and challenging experiences as well as from a range of opportunities for enrichment and personal development, including service to the wider community. While most pupils go on to Scottish universities, significant numbers regularly gain places at Oxford, Cambridge and Each Senior School pupil has a minimum of three periods per week devoted to Physical Education, including a games afternoon. The main games in the autumn and spring terms are rugby for boys and hockey for girls whilst, in summer, cricket, athletics and tennis are the major activities. Pupils can participate in many other sports, including swimming, cross-country running, badminton, basketball, volleyball, netball, golf, orienteering, sailing and skiing. Swimming tuition is provided for all pupils in Transitus and First Year. We achieve considerable success in a wide range of sports at national and district levels, and teams compete regularly against other schools. Pupils are expected to be available if required for practices or fixtures both after school and on Saturday mornings. other U.K. universities. However, academic success is just one ingredient, albeit a most important one, in a good all-round education. Therefore we are determined to ensure that pupils enjoy a balanced, stimulating school life without undue pressure Excellence both inside and outside the classroom or stress. HM Inspectors identified an impressive choice of extra-curricular activities through which pupils achieve in a broad range of areas 14
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NURTURING full potential MUSIC Music plays a vital part in the School s life, both within the curriculum and as an extra-curricular activity. Music is a timetabled activity for all pupils from Kindergarten up to the Second Year of the Senior School. From Third Year the subject becomes one of the options for Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations. Activities in Junior School music classes include singing, music and movement, recorder, group musicmaking, appreciation, electronic keyboard and composing. In Senior School, electronic hardware Large numbers of pupils participate enthusiastically in the musical life of the School and choral and orchestral standards are exceptionally high. Not only are there many orchestras, choirs, bands and groups of all kinds and a Pipe Band, there are also regular opportunities to perform throughout the year at orchestral and choral concerts, services and prizegivings. Visiting specialist teachers provide tuition in strings, woodwind, brass & percussion, piano, singing and bagpipes. such as computers, midi-keyboards, synthesisers, sequencers, mixing-desks and multi-track recorders feature prominently in music and sound engineering classes and pupils use these not only to perform but also to compose, improvise and arrange music. Encouragement of each pupil to achieve his or her full potential 16
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THE HOUSE SYSTEM A House System is introduced in Junior School, which links into the four School Houses at the Senior School. Within this system, senior pupils are given the opportunity to display leadership qualities, to shoulder responsibility and to provide support for new and younger pupils. Whilst all members of staff have a pastoral role, House Staff take particular responsibility for the welfare of the children in their Houses and are the first point of contact for parents with any concerns. In their exercise of pastoral care the House Staff have contact with pupils in various ways, including individual discussions, group get-togethers and House Assemblies. Each House organises outings, social occasions, fund-raising for charities as well as team or individual entrants for competitions and events. Transitus children participate fully in House activities but at that stage it is the Transitus Form Teacher who has the primary pastoral role. All pupils report to their Form Teachers at the start of each day but Transitus Form Teachers have an additional weekly period with their forms. The House System enhances pupils sense of identity in the School. The quality of the climate and relationships is excellent. House Staff aim to encourage in individual pupils the acquisition of a width of interests and skills and the development of sound attitudes to life generally ALL-ROUND e d u c a t i o n 18
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES The numerous clubs and societies, which meet either during the lunch break or after school, include Historical, French, Art, Drama, Computing, Electronics, Chemistry, Chess, Cookery, Film and Sewing clubs along with Scripture Union and Amnesty International Groups. Members of the Literary and Debating Society have an outstanding record of success in national competitions. There is also a wide range of sports clubs. Various orchestras, choirs, bands and ensembles ENTRANCE ARRANGEMENTS Pupils are normally admitted to the School after an interview or Entrance Test, through which the School can assess each individual s potential to benefit from our educational provision. Where the School is over-subscribed for any age group, selection of pupils will be based on merit on the grounds of ability and aptitude (see Admissions Policy). The main entry points are Kindergarten, Transitus and the First Year of the Senior School. However, places are offered at all stages when vacancies occur. Entrance tests and interviews take place in January each year contribute to a very full programme of extracurricular music. There are several concerts each year, a major school production and other drama performances. In addition, many pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh s Award, Young Enterprise Scheme and Community Service. During the holidays school parties regularly travel at home and abroad and sports teams go on tour. 19
for children seeking entry to Junior 2 to Junior 6 and to Transitus to Fourth Year at the Senior School. Informal interviews are held in January for children whose parents have applied for places in Kindergarten and Junior1. Pupils wishing to join the School for Fifth or Sixth Years are not asked to sit entrance tests because they are involved in national examinations, so decisions on admissions are based instead on interviews and school reports. BURSARIES The High School of Glasgow has a Bursary Fund to enable pupils to attend the School who would not otherwise be able to do so. Existing pupils are also eligible for bursaries when a degree of financial need arises. Bursaries are, however, only available at the Senior School. Bursaries are awarded mainly on academic merit, but the value of each award depends on financial need and may vary from year to year (see Admissions Policy - Bursaries section). CAREERS ADVICE Pupils are advised individually about subject choices, courses and careers whenever appropriate. From Fourth Year onwards, pupils have access to advice from the Independent Schools Careers Organisation, whose representatives visit the School and attend Parents Evenings. Fourth Year pupils have timetabled careers periods and, during the Summer Term, Fifth Year pupils are given the opportunity to gain work experience in a variety of industries and professions. DEVELOP a range of skills 20
THE SENIOR SCHOOL All Facilities are together at one Location Art Department Sports Complex Stand with Refectory Artificial Pitch Stand Library Computing Suite Anniesland Road Entrance Crow Road Great Western Road Science Laboratories Drama studio Assembly Hall Pavilion Music Department THE HIGH SCHOOL o f G l a s g o w
THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Junior 6 Building Gymnasium Hall Music Suite Playground Ledcameroch Road Main Classrooms Block Junior1/2 Building Art Rooms Playground Kindergarten LEDCAMEROCH ROAD JUNIOR SCHOOL A82 SENIOR SCHOOL ROAD ANNIESLAND X ANNIESLAND ROAD A814 CROW ROAD CLYDE TUNNEL BEARSDEN STATION CANNIESBURN TOLL BEARSDEN MARYHILL ROAD ANNIESLAND STATION JORDANHILL STATION CLYDESIDE EXPRESSWAY GREAT WESTERN ROAD BYERS ROAD M8 MOTORWAY A81 SAUCHIEHALL RIVER CLYDE SCHOOL BUILDINGS STATIONS OR SUBURBAN ELECTRIC LINE MAIN ROADS ENTRANCE TO SENIOR SCHOOL 0 1 KILOMETRE 1 MILE N STREET CENTRAL STATION KINGSTON BRIDGE M8 QUEEN ST STATION ARGYLE STREET VISITING THE SCHOOL No prospectus can hope to convey completely the atmosphere and life of the School. We hold an Annual Open Morning at the Junior School and Open Evening at the Senior School, to which parents and children are warmly invited. In addition, you are most welcome to contact the Rector or the Head Teacher of the Junior School to arrange an individual visit. We look forward very much to meeting you and to discussing how we can help build a good foundation for your children s future. PLANS AND LOCATIONS OF SCHOOL ESTATES