Set your child up for success through the joy of learning.
Pupil Numbers
September 2024 - 908 pupils
202 4 SQA Examination Results
S4 - National 5
• 106 pupils
• 80.7% ‘A’ grades
• 95.9% A-C pass rate, with 53 pupils gaining 8 or more grade ‘A’ passes
S5 - Higher
• 105 pupils
• 74.9% ‘A’ grades
• 96.6% A-C pass rate; an average of 4.8 Highers per pupil; 53 pupils gaining 5 or 6 grade ‘A’ passes
S6 - Advanced Higher
• 222 exams sat
• 52.3% ‘A’ grades
• 81.1% A-C pass rate, with 20 pupils gaining 3 or more grade ‘A’ passes
University Destinations
Of our 2024 leavers, 99% gained firm choice acceptances. 61 pupils were accepted to Russell Group institutions and the University of St Andrews, with one taking on a degree apprenticeship. Four leavers have decided to take a gap year and re-apply to university/conservatoires in 2025. A further five leavers are going to college, with one taking on a modern apprenticeship.
Places for 2024
Aberdeen - 4
Abertay - 1
Cambridge - 1
DePaul (Chicago, USA) - 1
Dundee - 3
Edinburgh - 26 (2 FPs)
Edinburgh Napier - 3
Glasgow - 16 (1 FP)
Glasgow Caledonian - 2 (1 FP & 1 deferral)
Glasgow School of Art - 1
Heriot-Watt - 3 (1 deferral)
Imperial College London - 1
Lancaster - 1
London School of Economics & Political Science - 1
Queen Margaret - 1 (1 Fifth Year)
Queens University of Charlotte (North Carolina, USA) - 1
Robert Gordon - 1
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - 2 (1 Fifth Year)
St Andrews - 14 (1 deferral)
Stirling - 5 (2 Fifth Year & 1 deferral)
Strathclyde - 12 (1 Fifth Year & 2 FPs)
Warwick - 2
West of Scotland - 1
* FP = Former Pupil
Academic Achievements
Biology
• Three Fifth Year pupils finished within the top 30% of the UK to win bronze medals in the British Biology Olympiad.
Bridge
• Three Fourth Year pupils became the youngest female Bridge players to represent Scotland, as well as being part of a four-year international research study into the game of Bridge led by the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Social Sciences.
Debating & Public Speaking
• A Third Year pupil was chosen as the overall winner in the final of the Young Speakers Scotland Competition.
English
• Five Fifth Year pupils were accepted to the prestigious Homerton College Essay Programme, which is designed to equip participants with key skills that are considered highly desirable by university admissions tutors such as critical reading, research design and essay writing.
HFT
• A Fourth Year pupil progressed to the Scottish Final of the Future Chef Competition.
History
• The History Department was recognised by the Western Front Association as the very first recipient of the charity’s newly introduced Quality Mark.
Mathematics
• In the UK Mathematical Trust competitions, pupils achieved the following:
» 5 gold, 14 silver and 18 bronze awards in the Senior (Fifth & Sixth Year) Mathematical Challenge.
» 15 gold, 16 silver and 47 bronze awards in the Intermediate (Third & Fourth Year) Mathematical Challenge.
» 23 gold, 26 silver and 29 bronze awards in the Junior (First & Second Year) Mathematical Challenge.
• In the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls a Fourth Year pupil scored 39 out of 40, receiving a distinction, while another four pupils achieved merit awards.
• A team of four Third and Fourth Year mathematicians finished as runners up in the national Enterprising Maths Competition at Glasgow Science Centre.
• In the Scottish Maths Challenge, pupils achieved the following:
» 1 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze awards for Transitus pupils in the Primary Section.
» 2 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze awards for First and Second Year pupils in the Junior Section.
» 1 gold award for a Third Year pupil in the Intermediate Section.
» 1 silver and 1 bronze award for Fifth Year pupils in the Senior Section.
• Transitus pupils secured 10 gold, 8 silver and 15 bronze awards in the Primary Maths Challenge.
Physics
• A Fifth Year pupil received the Institute of Physics Award in recognition of gaining the joint highest mark in the country for National 5 Physics in the 2023 exam diet.
• A Sixth Year pupil won a prestigious gold certificate in the British Physics Olympiad, while there were also a further two bronze certificates won.
• In the Junior Physics Challenge, Third, Fourth and Fifth Year pupils earned 3 gold, 25 silver and 37 bronze certificates.
SQA Exams
• A Fifth Year pupil was ranked top nationally in Higher Biology, Computing Science and Mathematics SQA Exams - an incredible achievement!
START
• Created in collaboration with leading voices in design and entrepreneurship, START teaches teams of senior pupils how to identify and solve real-world problems, turn their ideas into early-stage business proposals, and communicate their vision to others.
• START fosters vital skills for the modern economy that will benefit young people, regardless of their future career ambitions.
• The programme launched during the 2023-24 session, running throughout the year and culminating with a Pitch & Vision Evening at SWG3 where Sixth Year pupils pitched their business concepts to a panel of experts including Kevin Walls, COO of Scottish EDGE, Wendy McDougall, CEO of Firefish and Danny Campbell, Architect and Founder of HOKO.
National Arts & Music Recognition
• Paintings created by two Fifth Year pupils were featured at London’s Caledonian Club as part of their Scottish Schools’ Art Exhibition. A further six pieces by senior pupils were featured online in the Caledonian Club’s digital gallery.
• A Sixth Year pupil toured Europe as one of the youngest members of the National Youth Choir of Scotland’s Touring Choir and was selected as a member of the RSNO Youth Chorus to sing the prestigious solo from ‘The Snowman’ with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as his accompaniment at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. He performed a solo at the RSNO Video Games Music in Concert and played the tenor saxophone at the Scottish Young Musicians Independent Schools Competition.
• A Fourth Year clarsach player won the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Junior Conservatoire Traditional Music Competition, while four J4-Transitus pupils won prizes at the Trades House of Glasgow Robert Burns Festival Competition.
• Four First to Fourth Year musicians (playing violin, cello, bassoon & trombone) were selected for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland Development Orchestra, while Third Year cellists and violinists performed with the West of Scotland Schools String Orchestra in a concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Our cellist led the cello section as they performed pieces by Fauré and Britten.
• Three First to Fourth Year pupils were selected for the National Youth Boys or Girls’ Choirs, while a Sixth Year and recent former pupil performed with the NYCOS Main Choir, culminating in a performance of Britten’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in the London Proms.
• The Pipe Band won the Junior B Section at the Scottish Schools’ Pipe Band Championships and a Transitus piper was named overall chanter champion at the Festival of Solo Piping. Elsewhere, Three pipers from Fifth and Third Year were selected for the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland Development and Junior Bands, with the Fifth Year piper performing at the Celtic Connections Festival with the NYPBS.
• Eight Senior School musicians secured Grade 8 Distinctions in music exams this session.
• Transitus pupils worked in collaboration with Scottish Opera to create and perform an ‘Opera in a Day’.
Global Education
• Eco-School - Green Flag status re-awarded during session 2022-23 (has been held since 2012).
• Eco Committee, Model UN, Chinese Language Club and the introduction of Mandarin to the School’s curriculum
• 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.
• Organisation of HSOG Fest for School’s 900th anniversary celebrations.
National Sporting Success
The following achievements record Scottish Schools’ success or international representation by individual pupils.
Athletics
• Four gold medals and one bronze medal were won by Fourth and Fifth Year athletes at the Scottish Schools’ Athletics Track and Field Championships.
• An individual gold medal for a Fifth Year runner and two team bronze medals were won at the Scottish Schools’ Athletics Road Race Championships.
• Team silver and bronze medals were won at the Scottish Schools’ Relay Championships, while the Transitus Boys’ team took home bronze medals at both the Scottish Primary Schools’ Relay Championships and Scottish Primary Schools’ Cross Country Championships.
• An individual gold medal and two team silver medals were won at the Scottish Secondary Schools’ Cross Country Championships.
• A Fourth Year athlete finished fourth in a British Cross Challenge event, won the West District Cross Country Championships and was selected to run for Scotland West at the combined British Inter-Counties Cross Country & British Cross Challenge Final, where he won the U17 Men’s title for both events and won gold for being part of the winning InterCounties team. He finished third in the UK in the British Cross Challenge standings for 23-24.
• A Fifth Year runner competed for Scotland in the 3,000m events at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad & Tobago and was selected to represent Scotland at U20 level in the British Cross Challenge series.
Badminton
• A Fourth Year pupil won the U17 Girls’ Singles title at the Scottish Secondary Schools’ Open Championships.
BMX
• A Transitus pupil was runner up in a BMX National Series Event.
Cricket
• The 1st XI were selected as the Forty Club (Scotland District) School of the Year for 2023.
• A Fifth Year pupil was selected to represent Scotland at U15 level in the Celtic Cup.
Gymnastics
• A Second Year pupil won the British Tumbling Challenge Cup Qualifier before going on to compete in the 13-14 years old competition at the British Tumbling Championships.
Hockey
• The 1st XI were runners up in the BP Cup Competition and reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Plate competition. Third Year were also runners up in the Scottish Plate competition.
• Four Fourth and Fifth Year pupils were selected for the Emerging National Squad, seeing action in matches against England and Ulster, taking part in a competition in the Czech Republic and competing in the 4 Nations Competition at Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
• Six Fourth and Fifth Year pupils were chosen for the Brave Aspiring Academy Squad, eight Third and Fourth Year pupils were selected for the Brave Emerging Academy Squad and a number of pupils represented the West District team at the Inter-District Tournament.
Netball
• A Fourth Year pupil was selected for the Scottish U17 Team and won the coaches award for player of the tournament for the Scottish U15 team at the National Academies Tournament.
Rugby
• The School were joint winners of the Conference Championship, with the 1st XV Captain representing Scotland at the U18 Six Nations Festival in Parma, Italy. He also scored tries in each leg and kicked 5 out of 8 conversions in the deciding match as Glasgow Warriors U18s won the 1872 Cup against Edinburgh Rugby.
• A Fourth Year pupil captained the Glasgow Warriors U16 team and a Sixth Year pupil joined the Royals at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina to compete in Rugby East, one of the toughest college competitions in the USA.
Skiing
• A Transitus pupil won the SSSA Scottish Dry Slopes P5-P7 Girls Individual Championship.
• The Senior Open and Primary J4 - Transitus teams won silver medals while the Senior Team won bronze at the SSSA Autumn Dual Slalom Event, all qualifying for the national finals.
Squash
• A Transitus squash player was ranked within the top 10 in Scotland at U13 level and was selected for the West of Scotland U13 squad.
Swimming
• A Transitus pupil won gold and a Sixth Year pupil won silver at the Scottish Schools’ Championships, while the Transitus Boys’ team won silver medals at the Scottish Schools’ Team Championships.
Tennis
• Two Third Year pupils competed at Wimbledon as part of the LTA ‘Play Your Way to Wimbledon’ National Finals. One of these pupils also won the U14 LTA Lexus Indoor National Championships Singles title, as well as competing for the Scotland U14 Team at the Junior Four Nations Championships as they were crowned Junior Four Nations Champions.
• The Senior Boys’ Team were runners up in the Scottish Secondary Schools’ Championships.
• A number of pupils represented West of Scotland age-group teams in national competitions.
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 2023-24 included visits to Normandy, a Classics trip to Greece, a Geography trip to Iceland, a History Department trip to Berlin, a Modern Languages Department excursion to Madrid, a Biology fieldtrip to Mexico, hockey and rugby tours to Amsterdam and Biarritz, and a memorable adventure to the Swiss Alps.
• Transitus-S3 Activities Week in May included the annual S1 trip to Raasay.
• J5 and J6 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.
Charity , Community Involvement & Fundraising
• Senior School House Fundraising Weeks supported Team Jak, Auditory Verbal UK, Scoliosis UK and Maggie’s Centres, raising a total of £10,661.
• Nearly £1,500 was raised for East Park via Transitus Cake & Candy stalls throughout November and December, alongside our community Christmas appeal.
• Nearly £500 was raised for Save the Children over the festive period while £1,322 went to HomeStart and Social Bite following the Christmas Fair; £1,893 was raised for The Prince and Princess of Wales Trust during the Transitus ‘Go Yellow’ Walk and more than £150 went to Macmillan Cancer Trust following a successful coffee morning.
• Fundraising events at the Junior School over the course of the session saw more than £1,000 raised for Children in Need, more than £700 go to SSPCA via non-uniform and Christmas jumper days, and further donations benefit the likes of Comic Relief, WWF and CHAS.
• Junior School pupils donated a record-breaking 753 items of food provisions and toiletries to local charities for Harvest Week.
• A J5 pupil raised £2,895 for Glasgow Children’s Hospital by participating in a sponsored 10km walk.
• The Junior School’s Kindness Club spread joy amongst the local community in Bearsden by giving out specially designed packets of sunflower seeds, while Junior 5 visited the Refuweegee charity as part of their class topic and the Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Glasgow for their class topic on Sikhism.
Clubs, Societies & Extra-Curricular Activities
• Over 60 extra-curricular activities at the Senior School - Classical Theatre Club, Debating Society, Historical Film Club, Medical Society, School Newspaper and many more.
• Over 30 extra-curricular activities at the Junior School - Chess Club, Martial Arts, Mindfulness, Science Club, Wind Band and many more.
• In a typical session, Junior School pupils participate in an average of four extra-curricular activities, while over 85% of pupils at the Senior School participate in two or more activities.
Student Council
The Student Council is a pupil led body that meets with the Head of Senior School to discuss items raised by the pupil body or by the School for consultation.
During the course of the 2023-24 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, PE kit and new items of uniform.
• Consultation with the Parent Association for HSOG Fest.
