Balfron Highlights

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the first Balfron Highlights of 2026! I hope that you had a great Christmas and new year.  It seems like a long time ago now and we have much to share from Balfron High this term. Our senior pupils have completed the prelim diet and we are now all firmly focused on preparing for final exams.  

The prelim diet is increasingly logistically massive to organise.  In total across National Qualification levels (N5-AH), there were 90 different exams papers.  In addition to scheduling the exams, Mr Slavin and Mr Murphy organised 720 Additional Arrangements for our pupils.  Our Principal Teachers, technicians, flexible learning staff made sure that everything was ready for candidates.  We were grateful to staff and volunteers for their help invigilating.  If you would be willing and able to join our group of PVG volunteers, please complete this short parent volunteer form.

I am sure that almost all young people have by now shared their results with you.  We are currently collating results across the school and will shortly share your child's attainment overview.

Parent of S1/2 pupil? Balfron Learning Community Digital Awareness Event. Save the Date!

I am pleased to share that in partnership with our associated primary schools we are planning and delivering a Digital Awareness Event at Balfron High School on Thursday March 26th from 630-8pm. The event is for parents and carers of pupils from P6-S2 and we will be offering workshops on:

• • • Tools for learning to support ASN

    • Safety online - PC Barclay, Balfron High Campus Officer 

    • Navigating use of your child's smart phones - a parent perspective

    • Managing your home internet devices & routers to keep children safe

I am delighted to share that we are getting some new graphics over the holidays in key areas of the school.  I have shared a link to the plans below.  We have had loads of discussion with a group of young people (Graphics Class) and staff to get the style and colours right.  We think they represent the school well and  hope you like them.

Celebrating Achievement

I have shared some photos and videos below that will give you a snap shot of the activities and successes at Balfron High so far this term. We love to hear about and celebrate our young people's achievements.  Please get in touch if there is something new that we may not know.  Your child may be eligible to be included on our Internationalist Board.  Here are the criteria: 

• Winning a Scottish or British Championship

• Membership of a Scottish or British Squad

• Representing Scotland or Great Britain (GB)

• Membership of the Scottish National Youth Orchestra

How to Apply

If your child has achieved one of the milestones listed above, we would love to hear from you. Please complete our digital application via the Google Form https://forms.gle/jczfwLmjdg1Ks3Xh9

Family Learning - Learn with us

To keep you in the loop, I am pleased to share the presentations and detail from meetings and assemblies below so far this term:

• Curriculum course choice information (new website)

• Gender Based Violence assembly

• Parent Council meeting

Each of the presentations are below for your information.  We encourage you to speak with you children about them. 

School Improvement 2026-27: Your views are wanted!

It is the time of year where we link with all of our stakeholders to hear how we are doing.  We use His Majesty's Inspectorate survey to guide us and would very much appreciate you taking 10 minutes to complete the survey.

Last session (2024-25) at this time we had 26 responses.  Here is the summary of responses and subsequent action.

Here is a link to this year's survey.  If you have more than one child, you may want to complete it separately for each child if their experience is different, alternatively you can tick the boxes for each of their year groups.

Following discussion with the parent council, this year the survey is anonymous. However you have the opportunity to share your contact if you would like a call back or to be part of a parent focus group.

In the mean time, as we move towards the Easter holiday, our main priorities for this term:

• support improvement of attainment in run up to SQA course completion

• ensure all senior pupils have their best 5 qualifications

• continued commitment to high quality learning and teaching through professional learning and quality assurance

• support and intervention to improve attendance of young people

Feedback on Balfron Highlights is always welcome.  I am grateful to receive that directly   

Thank you all for your support. 

Elaine Bannatyne

Head Teacher

bannatynee01s@glow.sch.uk