Annual Review 2022-23

Annual Review 2022 - 23

Set your child up for success through the joy of learning.

Pupil Numbers September 2023 - 944 pupils

2023 SQA Examination Results S4 - National 5

S5 - Higher

S6 - Advanced Higher

• 106 pupils • 83.2% ‘A’ grades • 98.3% pass rate, with 59 pupils gaining 8 or more grade ‘A’ passes

• 105 pupils • 72.7% ‘A’ grades • 94.7% pass rate, an average of 4.7 Highers per pupil, with 49 pupils gaining 5 or 6 grade ‘A’ passes

• 202 exams sat • 69.3% ‘A’ grades • 93.6% pass rate, with 40 pupils gaining 3 or more grade ‘A’ passes

University Destinations The School were delighted to recognise such success for applicants, with 100% of those individuals going to university this year achieving the conditions of their firm offers to study.

Three individuals were accepted to Oxford and Cambridge, with one choosing to defer. Overall, 59 pupils were accepted to Russell Group institutions. Three leavers have decided to take a gap year and re-apply to university next year - one is headed to college, while two are taking on degree apprenticeships.

Places for 2023 Aberdeen - 5 (1 FP) Abertay - 2 Cambridge - 1 Dundee - 4 Edinburgh - 24 (3 deferrals) Edinburgh Napier - 1 Glasgow - 28 (1 deferral) Glasgow Caledonian - 7 Heriot-Watt - 4 Imperial College London - 1 * FP = Former Pupil

Leeds - 1 Newcastle - 1 (deferral) Oxford - 2 (1 deferral) Queen Margaret (Edinburgh) - 1 Queen Mary (London) - 1 Robert Gordon - 1 Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - 1 St Andrews - 6 Stirling - 2 (1 FP) Strathclyde - 1 (FP)

Academic Achievements Biology •

Two S5 pupils finished within the top 15% of the UK to win silver medals in the British Biology Olympiad, with a further four S5 & S6 pupils also winning bronze medals.

Debating & Public Speaking •

S4 pupils achieved first, second and third places at the Young Speakers Scotland St Andrew’s Day Debate in Edinburgh.

•

Two S1 debaters reached the final of the Glasgow Bar Debating Competition.

•

An S3 pupil was accepted into the Scottish Team Development Squad for debating.

History •

An S2 pupil won the Secondary School category of the Poppyscotland ‘The Day War Started My Secret War Diary’ Writing Competition.

•

S3 pupils were victorious in the Western Front Association (WFA) Malcolm Doolin Memorial Award for local research into The Great War, with pupils displaying their learning by producing videos to tell the stories of some of the hundreds of former High School of Glasgow pupils who fought during World War I.

Mathematics •

In the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls, an S6 pupil scored 49 out of 50, receiving a distinction, while another S6 pupil achieved a certificate of merit.

•

A team of four S3 & S4 pupil mathematicians were runners up in the Enterprising Maths Final.

•

In the UK Mathematical Trust competitions, pupils achieved the following: » Five gold, eleven silver and eighteen bronze awards in the Senior (S5 & S6) Mathematical Challenge, with three pupils achieving merit awards in the follow-on Kangaroo round, and two pupils reaching Round 2 of the follow-on Olympiad, achieving a distinction and merit award, respectively. » Eleven gold, twenty four silver and twenty two bronze awards in the Intermediate (S3 & S4) Mathematical Challenge. Twelve pupils qualified for various follow-on rounds, with one pupil achieving a merit award in the Pink Kangaroo. » Sixteen gold, twenty two silver and thirty two bronze awards in the Junior (S1 & S2) Mathematical Challenge, with nine pupils qualifying for various follow-on rounds.

•

In the Scottish Maths Challenge, pupils achieved the following: » Three gold, two silver and two bronze awards for Transitus pupils in the Primary Section. » Three silver awards for S2 & Transitus pupils, and five bronze awards for S1 pupils in the Junior Section. » Two gold awards and one bronze award for S4 pupils in the Intermediate Section.

•

An S5 pupil was invited to a UKMT BMO Mathematics training camp in Hungary.

National Sporting Success The following achievements record Scottish Schools’ success or international representation by individual pupils.

Athletics •

Team gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as an individual bronze medal, were won at the Scottish Schools’ Athletics Road Race Championships.

•

Team gold, silver and bronze medals were won at the Scottish Schools’ Relay Championships.

•

At the Scottish Schools’ Athletics Track and Field Championships, an S4 athlete won gold and silver medals, including a personal best in the Triple Jump event. Senior pupils won a further gold, silver and two bronze medals at the championships.

•

Gold, silver and bronze medals (x2) were won at the Scottish Schools’ Indoor Track and Field Championships.

•

Two team gold medals were won at the Scottish Secondary Schools’ Cross Country Championships, with team bronze and an individual silver medal also won at the event.

•

Team silver and bronze medals were won at the Scottish Primary Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

•

An S3 athlete competed for the Scottish team at the SIAB Cross Country Championships in Liverpool before winning bronze in the Men’s U17 3000m race at the Glasgow Athletics Association Miler Meet. An S4 athlete also won gold in the Women’s U17 3000m race at the Glasgow Athletics Meet, before going on to compete for Scotland in the 3000m event at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago during the summer.

Badminton •

An S6 pupil won a silver medal in the Senior Boys’ event at the SSBU Secondary Schools’ Championships, as well as finishing as runner up in the West of Scotland Senior Doubles Competition.

Cricket •

An S6 cricketer represented Scotland at the inaugural ICC Women’s U19 T20 Cricket World Cup in Johannesburg, before gaining her first full caps as part of the Scotland Women’s team that won their ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifying Tournament.

•

Her twin brother was also part of the Scotland Men’s U19 team that qualified for the ICC U19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in January 2024.

•

An S4 cricketer was part of the Scotland U15 squad that toured Ireland.

•

The 1st XI reached the Scottish Cup Finals Day, eventually losing out in the semi-final.

Gymnastics •

An S1 pupil won a bronze medal at the Scottish National Tumbling Championships.

Hockey •

The 1st XI won the Plate Trophy in the BP Competition.

•

Two individuals from S6 and S4 represented the Scotland Aspiring and Emerging squads in competitions throughout Europe, including competing at the EuroHockey U18 Championships and the European 8 Nations Competition.

•

Several S3, S4, S5 & S6 pupils played in the Emerging and Aspiring Academy squads.

•

Nine S2 & S3 pupils represented the West District U14 team and ten S3 & S4 pupils played for the West District U15 at their respective inter-district tournaments.

Netball •

An S3 pupil was selected to represent the Scotland U15 & U17 squads.

Rugby •

The 1st XV were runners up in the Boys’ National Schools Shield Final at BT Murrayfield.

•

An S5 pupil participated for the Glasgow & The West and Glasgow Warriors U18 squads in October, impressing as he scored three tries throughout the series.

He also participated with a Scottish U18 training squad.

Skiing •

The Junior team finished first and the Primary team were runners up at the SSAA Autumn Dual Slalom Skiing Competition.

Swimming •

An S6 swimmer won gold and silver medals at the Scottish Schools’ Time Trials.

Tennis •

The U15 Boys’ team became Scottish champions for 2022 and followed this up with victory at the North Regional Finals, before competing well to finish third in the UK at the LTA National Finals.

National Arts & Music Recognition •

Six pupils represented the National Youth Choirs of Scotland, including S5 & S6 pupils in the prestigious Main Choir, comprising the most promising young singers in the country aged 16-25, as well as one pupil being part of the NYCOS Touring Choir.

•

Four pupils represented the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland for 2023.

•

Five pupils sang in performances of Benjamin Britten’s ‘War Requiem’ with the RSNO Youth Chorus at Usher Hall and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, while eight pupils performed with a live orchestra during the RSNO Christmas Concert, also at the Royal Concert Hall.

•

Senior School pipers enjoyed a day to remember at the Scottish Schools’ Pipe Band Championships, being awarded first place in both the Freestyle (Fusion) and Junior B categories.

•

Five S5 & S6 musicians achieved Grade 8 with Distinctions in ABRSM and Trinity College exams, including one pupil gaining two Grade 8 with Distinctions, a significant achievement.

•

An S6 alto saxophonist was runner up in the Scottish Young Musicians Competition.

•

Transitus pupils worked in collaboration with Scottish Opera to create and perform a musical project.

Clubs and Societies •

Over 90 clubs at the Senior School - Gymnastics, Pipe Band, Medical Society, First Lego League, Bridge, Squash and many more.

•

Over 30 clubs at the Junior School - Coding, Martial Arts, Science, Piping, Drama, Chess and many more.

•

Over 85% of pupils at both the Junior and Senior Schools participate in two or more activities.

Student Council During the course of the 2022-23 session The Student Council addressed the following: •

Consultation with school caterers to discuss prices and menu choices.

•

Discussions with the Deputy Head Teacher concerning uniform, with a particular focus on jewellery, hair styles and PE kit.

•

Discussion about assemblies and how these might be improved to encourage greater pupil engagement, as well as addressing ‘The High School Way’ and its implementation, a year on.

•

Debate over junior exams, their appropriateness, particularly for Transitus pupils, and how effectively pupils felt they were prepared for them.

Charity, Community Involvement & Fundraising Total Raised - £29,864.07 •

Senior School House Fundraising Weeks supported Scoliosis Association UK, Unite Against Cancer, The Scottish Cot Death Trust and Rebecca Rocks, raising the total of £11,210.

•

Various fundraising events at the Junior School helped to raise £5,511.54 over the course of the session, including a Kindergarten sponsored walk which raised £1,732.67 for Children in Need, and £495.87 going to Glasgow Children’s Hospital courtesy of various events including a Junior 1 enterprise event.

•

The Junior and Senior Charities Committees gathered food provisions and toiletries, kindly donated by the School community, to give to local charities and foodbanks in October and November.

•

£1,519.62 was raised for East Park via Transitus Cake & Candy stalls throughout November and December, alongside our community Christmas appeal.

•

Nearly £6,000 was raised for Kinuni School in Zanzibar, prior to this summer’s community service trip that saw 40 Senior School pupils and staff travel to east Africa to participate in a Water and Sanitation Hygiene project.

•

Nearly £1,000 was raised for Save the Children over the festive period; £1,993 was raised for The Prince and Princess of Wales Trust during the Transitus ‘Go Yellow’ Walk; £1,850 went to Social Bite following the S6 Sleep Out at Old Anniesland; £890 was donated to Achieve More Scotland following participation from a number of Senior pupils in the Kiltwalk event.

•

S6 pupils performed at a local dementia-friendly cafe and at local care homes as part of the ‘Music and Wellbeing in the Community’ initiative.

Trips and Excursions •

Departments offer trips throughout the year including Biology and Geography trips to Millport and the Lake District, Modern Studies visits to the Scottish Parliament and Westminster, and an English Department trip to The Globe Theatre in London.

•

International trips during 2022-23 included visits to Normandy, a History Department trip to the Battlefields of Belgium and France, a Junior Hockey Tour to Belfast and a Community Service trip to help with the construction of a toilet block at Kinuni School in Zanzibar.

•

Transitus-S3 Activities Week towards the end of May included the annual S1 trip to Raasay.

•

Junior 5 and Junior 6 pupils enjoyed annual trips to Newlands and York.

•

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award saw Gold, Silver and Bronze applicants participate in challenging expeditions throughout Scotland.

The Parent Association •

Engaging with the High School community (staff, pupils and parents) to find ways to support all areas of the School.

•

Events include New Parents’ Reception, quiz nights and uniform sales.

Global Education •

Eco-School - Green Flag status re-awarded during session 2022-23 (which has been held since 2012).

•

Eco Committee, Model UN, Chinese Language Club and the introduction of Mandarin to the School’s curriculum

•

International Links - Hong Kong, Zanzibar, Amnesty International, S6 Friday Lecture Series.

Find out more at highschoolofglasgow.co.uk