Balfron Highlights

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back - it has been a great first full week at Balfron High School.  We hope that your young people have settled back into a good routine and have come home with positive stories.  

A massive thanks to parents and carers for your support with school uniform standards at the start of this term. Our young people look fantastic, appear more ready to learn and the school is calm and focused. 

Just a reminder that we respectfully ask that parents do not come onto the campus to drop their children off unless it is part of your child's agreed plan.  Doing so increases congestion and the likelihood of an accident occurring.  The visitor carpark, with its disabled parking, should be available to visitors during the day.  

2026 Exam Results

Firstly, congratulations to all of our senior phase pupils who were successful in their National Qualifications.  There was much to celebrate across S4 to S6.  There were strong results overall from last session's candidates.  All of our young people's achievements should be celebrated, particularly those who worked hard to pass or to achieve a top grade.  Here are some of our headline figures:

• Twenty-nine S5 Pupils achieved five As in their Highers

• 40% of S5 achieved 5 Highers (8% improvement from 2025)

• Twenty-eight S4 pupils achieved seven As in their National 5 exams

• 72% of S4 achieved 5 or more N5 qualifications (4% improvement from 2025)

• In English and maths alone there were 196 As at N5

• 124 As at Higher just between English and maths 

Like last year, we have prioritised re-coursing for senior pupils following Qualification Scotland results.  The aim has been to link with pupils to make sure their choices match their best chance of success, based on prior attainment and progression rates.  

Staffing 26-27

WE have some changes for the new session. I am delighted to share that Mr Murphy has taken over from Ms Montgomery at DHT for Campsie House and Mrs Slavin has taken over as PT ASN on a Monday/Tuesday.

We have welcomed eleven new staff to the Balfron team - Ms Duncan (biology), Ms Johnstone (chemistry), Mr Watts (maths), Mr Sumner (PT Languages, Mon/Tues), Ms Bull (business), Ms Clark (biology), Ms Docherty (music), Ms Bowie (English), Ms Carroll (PE), Ms Marshall (PE) and Ms Davidson (French/Spanish).

Communication and Partnership with Parents/Carers

We understand that everyone has their own preferences for communication. Will will share information via email, phone calls and meetings. Last session we used The School App for Parents.  Unfortunately this has closed down so we are migrating to Jigsaw School App.  We have just begun to start putting information on this - please bear with us. There is a parent help sheet on the right to guide you through set up. More information from the school office on this in due course.

We  will also share news, successes and achievements through this monthly newsletter, Balfron Highlights.  If you have information to share please let me know.

Following feedback, the HT drop-ins this year is offered in person or online.  To help manage the time available, click the link to secure your drop-in appointment.  The first one is on Monday 31st August between 3.30 and 5.30pm on.   If there is something you would like to ask or share, it would be fantastic to see you.  Make an appointment through this link.

Your first point of contact is your child's Form Class Leader.  Their details are below along with email addresses.

Of course, you are welcome to make contact any time.

School Improvement 26-27

Using last session's data, exam results, observations and feedback, we are currently finishing off the detail of our school improvement plan.  WE used feedback from parents to identify some specific improvements for the year. Whole school priorities:

• Increased consistency in high quality Learning & Teaching through targeted professional learning, teacher collaboration and sharing linked to attainment data

• Improved Wellbeing & Inclusion of all young people (Pupil led equalities input, SAMH male mental health leadership, HWB tracking & interventions, ESAS, Equalities)

• Curriculum development (implementing the Curriculum Improvement Cycle - new curriculum)

• Improved Attainment & Achievement (Literacy and numeracy qualifications for all learners, 5 best qualifications for all, maintain improvement at Level 6, Higher, recognise achievements in BGE)

• Increased influence of Pupil Voice on Improvement (Departmental focus, Pupil Parliament activities, Silver Award for Rights Respecting School) 

We are looking forward to a great new session and keen to work in partnership with you.

Feedback on Balfron Highlights is always helpful.  I am happy to receive that directly  

Very best wishes,

Elaine Bannatyne

Head Teacher

bannatynee01s@glow.sch.uk