Founded in 1878, it has a fine site with very handsome buildings in a pleasant urban residential area. Ample playing fields are three-quarters of a mile away. It has its own junior and nursery departments. Excellent modern facilities of all kinds are provided, including a well-stocked new library. The school has been co-educational since 1998; girls are now accepted at all ages and are present throughout the school. A central aim of the school is to achieve in full the academic potential of each pupil in the context of a rich all-round education. Most leavers go on to university. The expressive arts - music, art, drama and dance - have a central place and are integrated into the curriculum. There is a big range of sports and games (the school has produced a large number of international and county representatives) and of activities. There is a flourishing CCF and considerable emphasis on outdoor pursuits.

Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 640 day pupils. Senior department 11-18, 380 pupils. Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 5, 11 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth-form entry, level 3 in 5 S-grades. Must have academic ability and fluent English; no religious requirements. State school entry 90%-95% of senior intake.

Small number of scholarships at 12. Parents not expected to pay for textbooks; music lessons extra.

Rector: John Broadfoot, in post from 1998. Educated at Merchiston Castle and at the universities of Leeds (English) and Stirling (MEd). Previously Director of Studies at Strathallan. Teaching staff: 50 full time. Annual turnover 4%. Average age 35.

S-grade: 60 pupils in S-grade year. 95% pass at S-grade (grade 1-3). Highers: 54 in Higher year. 80% pass at H-grade (grades A-C). Pupils take a mixture of Intermediates, Highers and Advanced Highers.

95+% of sixth-form leavers go on to higher or further education, 3% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 30% in science and engineering, 5% in law, 30% in humanities and social sciences, 5% in art and design, 15% in other vocational subjects eg accountancy, agriculture, pharmacology, business studies, computer studies.

S-grades, Intermediates, Highers and Advanced Highers. 20 subjects offered. Higher Year: 50% take science; 25% arts/humanities; 25% both. Pupils take a mixture of Highers and Advanced Highers. Vocational: Work shadowing; enterprise education. Special provision: Help for mild dyslexics. Learning support trained staff. Languages: French (taught from age 5) and Spanish, Latin and German offered to S-grade, Higher and AH-level. Regular continental exchanges and visits. ICT: 4 computing suites.

Music: Up to 25% of pupils learn a musical instrument in private lessons, all learn instruments in class eg keyboards, recorder, guitar; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups include choirs, orchestras, ensembles, jazz, rock. Drama and dance: Both offered. Speech and drama exams offered. Art and design: Popular subject. Many successes in external competitions; top prizes in Glasgow Art Galleries Competitions and in Scottish independent schools art competition.

Sport: Rugby, cricket, athletics, hockey, tennis principal team games. Also badminton, golf, shooting, curling, basketball, volleyball, swimming, skiing, climbing, hill walking, soccer, fencing, cross-country, squash, sailing, gliding, windsurfing, canoeing. County, regional and national representatives in various sports. Activities: CCF compulsory for 1 year at age 14, optional thereafter; Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme optional. Up to 30 clubs, eg various sports clubs, drama, music, chess, computer, young engineer, Scripture Union, Young Enterprise, debating.

Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, captains of school, captains of house and house prefects, appointed by the Rector. Religion: Christian. Morning assemblies. All attend timetabled RE classes. Social: Social functions with local schools. Organised sports tours; ski trips; interest trips to eg USA, France, Kenya; CCF camps; some exchanges. Pupils allowed to bring own car to school. Meals self-service. School tuck shop. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

School's approach is - clear rules, firm expectations, emphasis on developing self-discipline within well-defined framework.

is run by Ian D Lindsay, Deputy Rector, Kelvinside Academy.

Sir T Risk (Governor of Bank of Scotland); Sir Hugh Fraser (Lord Fraser); Colin Mackay (TV political commentator) Lord Rodger (Lord Advocate) and many leading figures in the professions.