The present school is the result of a merger in 1976 between the boys' school, founded in 1641, with the neighbouring girls' school, founded in 1876. The secondary school is situated in a pleasant, quiet, residential area, 3 miles from the city centre. The premises are well equipped, with a sports hall, library and, most recently, the conversion of a church building into a music and ICT building, with auditorium and lecture theatre. An academic school with very good examination results. Some vocational qualifications are offered. Very strong indeed in music, drama and art. Equally strong in sports and games with a large number of representatives at county and national level. A good range of extra-curricular activities. Commitment to local community services and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 1712 day pupils (900 boys, 812 girls). Senior department 12-18, 1214 pupils (618 boys, 596 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 4, 12. Own entrance exam used. No special skills or religious requirements. Some 80 new pupils join age 12, mostly from state schools; automatic transfer at 12 from own primary sections (enquiries to 44 Kingarth Street, Glasgow G42 7RN, Tel 0141 423 2700).

Means-tested scholarships/bursaries available at age 12. Parents expected to buy some textbooks from age 14; extras approx 200 pa (books, sports equipment).

21% are in management; 15% doctors, dentists; 9% in education; 7% lawyers; 12% in accounting, finance; 6% engineers; 4% architects, surveyors.

Rector: Dr Ken Greig, in post from 2005. Educated at Oxford University (natural science), and Edinburgh (PhD geology). Previously Headmaster at Pangbourne, Director of Studies at Dollar Academy and Housemaster at Christ's Hospital. Also worked as exploration geologist. Teaching staff: 158 full time, 21 part time. Annual turnover small.

S-grade: 227 pupils in S-grade year; pupils by-pass S-grades in most subjects. Highers: 204 in Higher year (S5): 71% passed in 5+ or more subjects, 8% in 4; 9% in 3; 4% in 2 subjects. A-levels: 156 in A-level/Advanced Higher year: A-levels are usually taken in conjunction with Advanced Highers or further Highers.

95% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (10% after a gap year), 6% to Oxbridge. 21% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 23% in science and engineering, 14% in law, 23% in arts and social sciences (incl business and management studies), 17% in vocational subjects eg accountancy, journalism, education, architecture.

S-grade, Highers, Advanced Highers and A-levels. 24 subjects offered including psychology. 46% take science A-levels; 29% arts/humanities; 25% both. Vocational: Work experience available; also SQA modules in eg home economics, sport, media studies. Languages: French (taught from age 8), German and Spanish offered at S-grade to Advanced Higher. Regular exchanges (Germany and France). ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 650+ computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access.

Music: Over 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; many take instrumental exams, also S-grade, Higher and beyond. Some 17 musical groups including orchestras, string ensembles, wind bands, choirs, pipe band etc. Members of National Youth Orchestra, National Youth Choir. Drama and dance: Both offered. Pupils have recently taken part in STV, BBC, Scottish Opera, Citizens' Theatre and numerous other productions. Art and design: On average, 40 take S-grade, 39 Higher, 13 on post-Higher courses. Medals won in Glasgow Art Galleries competition. Many go on to art college.

Sport: Swimming, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, cross-country running. From age 14: rowing, soccer, squash, table tennis, badminton, golf, curling, judo, volleyball, basketball. SQA modules may be taken. International representatives in schools hockey, rugby, swimming, athletics, judo, badminton, rowing, cross-country. Activities: Pupils take silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service optional. Many clubs, eg ornithology, literary and debating, photography, drama, film, electronics, radio station, biiology, Muslim Society, Scripture Union, bridge, chess, technology.

Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Head boy, head girl and 4 deputies, appointed by Rector after consultation with staff and pupils; all in S6 can apply to be a prefect (selection after interviews). Religion: Non-denominational. Assembly 3 mornings a week (reading, prayer, hymn). Separate Jewish and Muslim assemblies (some 7% of pupils are Muslim, 6% Jewish, plus numbers of Hindus and Sikhs). Social: Debates with other local schools. Trips abroad (eg Germany, USA and Eastern Europe), skiing (Switzerland, USA), French and German exchanges; trips to Normandy beaches and WW1 battlefields; sports tours (eg hockey to Holland, rugby to France, South Africa), choirs in festivals in France and Germany. Pupils allowed to bring own car, bike or motorbike to school. Meals self-service.

Detention, report card for parental signature, school-based community work at weekends; for S5 and S6, 'making up for lost time' (MULT) detention for those falling behind with their work. For most serious offences, suspension is used, the pupil having to come in for the same number of days in the holidays.

is run from the school development office.

Prof Muriel Bradbrook (Shakespearean scholar); John Buchan (novelist); Lord Manuel Kissen (judge); R D Laing (psychotherapist); James Maxton MP; Prof Robert Crawford (poet); Lady Marion Fraser (Christian Aid); Adair Turner (CBI); Richard Emanuel (DX Communications); John Nicolson (TV presenter); Gordon Bulloch (Scotland rugby captain); Paul Rankin (TV chef); Ken Bruce (Radio 2); Eileen McCallum (actor); Lord Irvine (Labour peer); Lord McColl (Conservative peer and professor of surgery); Baroness Ramsay (Labour peer); Sir Alexander Stone (banker); Carol Smillie (TV presenter); Winnie Wooldridge (tennis international); Richard Emmanuel (entrepreneur); Adam Flemiing (BBC Newsround presenter).