Balfron High School


Balfron High School is a secondary school situated in the village of Balfron, approximately 18 miles west of Stirling and 16 miles north of Glasgow. The catchment area extends over most of West Stirlingshire including the villages of Arnprior, Balfron, Balmaha, Blanefield, Buchlyvie, Croftamie, Drymen, Fintry, Killearn, Kippen, Milton of Buchanan and Strathblane, along with the hamlets of Balfron Station, Boquhan, Buchanan Smithy, Gartness and Mugdock. The school also has pupils attending from other nearby areas of Dunbartonshire and Stirlingshire.

History

Balfron High School grew out of the Parish Church of Balfron, which can be traced back to the 17th century. The school became a High School in 1925 with the original school building in Balfron dating back to the early part of the 20th century. A major extension was built in the 1960s. The old school was known for being too small, due to the use of many mobile classrooms that were originally only meant as a temporary measure. In fact the mobile classrooms stood for many years and remained until the school was demolished. The original façade was preserved and has now been created into two homes, with the rest of the site of the old school also being developed into new homes.
The new school building was completed for the 2001-02 school year, costing £14 million to build. In May 2016, defects were found in the building. A total of 440 pupils in S1 to S3 were decanted to schools in Stirling.
The current head teacher at the school is Ms Elaine Bannatyne.

Houses

The school operates a three-house system. Campsie House is named for the Campsie Fells, a range of hills bordering the south east of the school's catchment area. Endrick House is named for the Endrick Water, a river flowing through the school's catchment area. Lomond House is named for Loch Lomond, a loch at the western fringes of the school's catchment area.

Notable alumni