Balfron Highlights
Merry Christmas from all of us at Balfron High School
Merry Christmas from all of us at Balfron High School
Where you find your thing
December 2025
Ā Update for Parents and Carers
Building Futures TogetherĀ
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we head into the Christmas holidays, I would like to thank you all for your support over the term.Ā On reflection, we have had a fantastic term (October-December).Ā We continue to promote an ethos of achievement beyond the classroom where everyone has many opportunities to find their thing through:
Inter-house activities
Our House Captains are doing a fantastic job increasing participation and contributing to a strong inter house culture where everyone is encouraged to join in.Ā Some examples from this term include volleyball, caricature, debating, swim gala and Christmas doors competitions.
Participation
Our list of clubs is below. We have 19 sports clubs on offer and 23 creative and academic clubs.Ā In addition we have STEM Ontrack, Chat-N-Chill, boys football squads, many music groups and bands.
Additional activities and clubs this term include the Robotics Challenge Club on Thursday lunchtimes,Ā Balfron Bletherers podcast, Board games on Monday lunchtimes (C10) and Yoga on a Wednesday after school.
These activities are valuable and contribute greatly to the development of our young people. They widen friendship groups, build confidence, develop cognitive and life skills, increase aspiration, teach discipline, resilience and support our pupils to experience success and find their thing.
Join us in encouraging pupils to take part in the many opportunities available at Balfron High.Ā Our participation tracking shows the number of pupils that have taken part in activities beyond the classroom this session are:
S1: 127 out of 143Ā
S2: 140 out of 150Ā
S3: 126 out of 153
Pupils leading
Our sports leaders have been successfully delivering sessions at our associated primary and secondary schools.Ā
The Pod, a HWB drop-in led by S4 pupils who have undergone training by SAMH (with support from Mr Haig) is running on Monday lunchtimes.Ā Ā
Through the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme, our S5 pupils were trained, planned and delivered sessions on not being a by-stander to our S1 pupils through PSE. It gives young people the chance to explore and challenge the attitudes, beliefs and cultural norms that underpin gender-based violence. Ā A strong emphasis has been placed on building healthy, respectful relationships both in the school and in the community.Ā
Our senior boys led excellent assemblies on Male Mental Health to all year groups.Ā
Our Equalities Group have led valuable assemblies this year on Black History month, Challenge Poverty,Ā
Wider achievement recognitionĀ
We had our second set of wider achievement recognition assemblies.Ā Teachers nominated young people who have consistently displayed school values and others who have taken part in activities representing the school.Ā The slides are below by year group with the names of all of those who have been recognised this term. We continue to identify and celebrate the achievement of pupils who gain international status on our board and through our ceremonies. Please let us know if there is something new, we may not be aware of. Ā We would love to recognise all achievements.
It is a given that we all work towards maximising our young peoples' attainment.Ā So far this year, our raising attainment strategy has included:
observing classes and sharing best practice - all faculties have been seen. Reports and videos shared with staff.
improvements to the Balfron L&T Lesson and toolkit
implementation of a new tracking & reporting system - you can access your child's reports through https://my.didbook.com/mobile/en-gb/Login/.Ā If you have any issues with access please let us know through this link: Tracking report questions
targeted after school supported study based on tracking data
For those interested, our Standards and Quality Report 2024-25 is available through this link and on the school website.Ā Ā
We are working hard to ensure that communication is efficient and effective and will contact you by phone, email, the Parent App and most recently we have added the Parentsportal. Ā If you haven't had a chance to sign up for the Parentsportal, I would recommend doing that when you get a minute.Ā This is an online service that lets you alert us electronically when your child is going to be absent.Ā It also will allow you to update your child's details.Ā Over time we hope to increase the functions available on the portal.
Just a reminder that the last day of term is a non-uniform day.Ā We ask those able, to donate dry and tinned food or toiletries to the Balfron Larder.Ā We will be making some Christmas runs, so your help is really appreciated to quietly support those in our community who may appreciate a little help.
For our senior phase pupils, the prelims begin on 7 January.Ā They have been emailed an individual prelim timetable.Ā Those with additional arrangements will have had these checked and confirmed by Mr Murphy (PT ASN).Ā If there are any issues, please contact Mr Slavin urgently.Ā
2026 Dates for your Diary
Monday 5th January School re-opens for S1-6
Wednesday 7 January S4-6 Prelims & study leave begins (individual emails to pupils)
Friday 16 January S1/2 Tracking reportsĀ
Monday 26 January Course Choice Evening (S2-5)
Tuesday 27 January Headteacher Drop-in, 3:30-5pm
Wednesday 28 January S4 Safe Drive Stay Alive
Monday 9 February Half Term holiday begins for pupils
Monday 16 February School re-opens
Wednesday 18 February S4 Parents Meeting
Friday 20 February S4 Tracking Reports
Friday 27 February S5/6 Tracking Reports
Monday 2 March S5/6 Parents Meeting
Thank you to everyone who bought raffle tickets for the Marr Hall Afternoon Tea.Ā Congratulations to the winner, Yvonne McMaster.Ā Here is a link to the draw.Ā
Feedback on Balfron Highlights is always welcome.Ā I am grateful to receive that directlyĀ Ā
Thank you all for your support. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and holiday period when it comes.
Very best regards,
Elaine Bannatyne
Head Teacher
bannatynee01s@glow.sch.uk
You are welcome to drop-in to school to chat with the HT without an appointment at the drop-in times listed below.Ā Parents will be seen on a first come, first served basis.
Username: BalfronHS
Pin code: 2001
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Top 3 caricatures from the inter-house comp
Massive congratulations to everyone who achieved an Endeavour or Wider Achievement Awards
Click the achievement assembly presentations belowĀ to see the award winners
Congratulations to everyone who achieved their Duke of Edinburgh Award - our ceremony pictures & presentation
A massive well done to Rory MacKay, 5E2, who has been selected for the Scotland Schools U18s Squad for his year's Centenary Shield.
Huge congratulations to Maggie Kidd, 2L1, who competed in The Trophy dāĆcosse annual synchronized skating competition hosted at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. This is one of the UKās most prestigious events for team skating, attracting clubs and teams from across the world, and often doubles as the Scottish Championships for synchronised skating. Ā Maggie skates with the Blizzard Synchro Team which is part of Starlight Synchro club,Ā based in Stirling, and who have a number of different teams of mixed ages and adults. She has been part of the Blizzard team for two years and is currently completing her Platinum individual skills level in Skate UKās Learn to Skate Programme.
December 2025
#findyourthing
Leaders help with a primary sports event
volleyball inter house
17 pupils from Cantabria join us for a Spanish immersion day
Christmas Fair 2025
Our Craft Club sell their beautiful festive products at the Xmas Fair
Our languages team run a European market stall
Christmas Dance Practice
Mentors for violence prevention planning and delivery
Inter-House Swim Gala video below
Week beginning 1 December at Balfron High School
Week beginning 8 December:
S1 Football Squad
Inter House Debating Teams
Higher Geography visit Torness Nuclear Power StationĀ
S3 Drama visit the MacRobert for a pantomime - excited to see our own Eliza Trussler in the show!
Higher RME visit Samye Ling Monastery to enhance learning about Buddhism
S3/4 Christmas Dance
Mrs Nunes' Chefs of the Week - Festive baking congratulations! š
Higher Spanish visit Malaga Tapas and practice speaking
Last week of term at Balfron High:
We had an international Google meet in French with students from a school in Canada
S1/2 Christmas Ceilidh
A selection of photos and short clips from our Christmas Concert
Link to Balfron High School Study Techniques
Continuing on from the excellent work by head prefects last session, Head Prefect, Fearne Condron is building on promoting good study techniques with a new team of S5 study skills ambassadors.
Ambassadors are currently working with S4 Form Classes to embed the 4 keys stages of effective study, why we do them and what techniques can be used at each stage:
Understand - Retrieve - Practice - Use Feedback
The group has developed this new poster to reinforce these steps, to be delivered to S4 & S5 form classes this week.
They have lots of ideas brewing including a study skills website, year group assemblies, and working with S2 & 3 later in the session - they're doing a great job!
Quick Links to study resources for seniors