The High School of Glasgow

High School of Glasgow

Motto	Sursum Semper (Always Upward)
Established	circa 1124 (refounded 1976)
Type	Independent
Rector	John O'Neill
Chair of Governors	Brian Adair
Founder	Glasgow Cathedral
Location	Old Anniesland 637 Crow Road Glasgow G13 1PL United Kingdom
Students	Approximately 700 pupils (senior school)
Gender	Mixed
Ages	5–18
Houses	Bannerman Clyde Law Moore
Colours
School Years	P1-S6
Website	highschoolofglasgow.co.uk

The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. The original High School of Glasgow was founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, and was the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom until its closure in 1977. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar school until coming under local authority control in 1872, and closed in 1977, when the private Drewsteighnton School adopted the name. The School maintains a relationship with the Cathedral, where it holds an annual Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving in September. It counts two British Prime Ministers, two Lords President and the founder of the University of Aberdeen among its alumni.

It is a selective school, meaning prospective pupils must sit an entrance test to gain admission. In 2009, The Times placed it as the top independent school in Scotland for Higher and Standard Grade results, a rise from second place the year before, although it placed only sixth in Scotland when counted by Highers alone, a drop from fourth in the previous year.

The Rector of the school is John O'Neill.

The original school was founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, and later became known as Glasgow Grammar School. It was housed in Greyfriar's Wynd until 1782, when it moved to new purpose-built accommodation in George Street, but it moved again in 1821 to new premises between John Street and Montrose Street. The name was changed in 1834 to The High School of Glasgow, and in 1872 it was transferred to the management of the Glasgow School Board. In 1878, the school moved into the former premises of the Glasgow Academy on Elmbank Street, when the latter moved to its new home in Kelvinbridge in the West End of the city. The Glasgow High School for Girls was founded in 1894 and housed variously in Garnethill and Kelvindale.