Hillhead High School is a day school in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oakfield Avenue, neighbouring the University of Glasgow.
It is one of the largest schools in Glasgow.
Until 1972 it was a co-educational selective school. It then became a comprehensive school.
In 1972 the local authority in Glasgow abolished the selectivity process and the school gradually became a comprehensive school serving its geographical catchment area of Glasgow's West End, and serving many pupils from wider afield who had attended the primary school.
Colin Campbell, SNP MSP from 1999–2003 for West of Scotland (taught from 1961–63)The school has two buildings, the Main Building and the Terrace Building. It also uses the nearby Wellington Church for mass assemblies at October, Christmas, Easter and Summer.
The X-shaped listed Main Building, acquired in the 1930s, is the larger of the two buildings, and is where most pupils begin their studies. Most of the school's classrooms and offices are situated on its four floors. Also in the Main Building is the library, where a career and exam advisor makes biweekly appearances. The main building was designed by E G Wylie in 1921, and construction finished in 1929. It is now protected as a category B listed building.
Originally owned by the University of Glasgow, the Terrace Building was acquired by Hillhead in c.2001. This building is used primarily for applied studies.
Hillhead High School is the only school in Glasgow which has implemented Minority Time Activity (MTA). On Friday afternoons, teachers host activities ranging from football to ten pin bowling. Students who take part in extracurricular activities can alternatively use this time for additional practice.
Don Arrol (d. 1967), Glaswegian comedian and presenter of Sunday Night at the London Palladium in the early sixtiesStanley Baxter, Glaswegian actorMenzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal DemocratsKari Corbett, actressProf Gordon Younger Craig, FRSE, geologist, James Hutton Professor of Geology 1967–84 University of Edinburgh, founder trustee of Our Dynamic EarthJosephine Crombie, actressProf Jack D. Dunitz, Professor of Chemical Crystallography from 1957–90 at ETH Zurich, and known for the Bürgi–Dunitz angleSir Alastair Dunnett, journalist and newspaper editor, Editor from 1956–72 of The Scotsman, and from 1946–55 of the Daily RecordIslam Feruz, first footballer to play for Scotland under the school qualification ruleAlexander Fleck, 1st Baron Fleck, Chairman from 1953–60 of ICILaura Fraser, actressJanice Hally, playwright and scriptwriterGilbert Highet, Anthon Professor of the Latin Language and Literature from 1950–72 at Columbia University, New YorkProf E. A. J. Honigmann, Joseph Cowen Professor of English Literature from 1970–89 at Newcastle UniversityGordon Jackson OBE, actor, noted for The Great Escape and The ProfessionalsProf Janusz Jankowski, doctor and academicGeorge Leslie, politicianIan MacGregor, metallurgist and industrialist, antagonist in the UK miners' strike (1984-1985), Chairman from 1983–86 of the National Coal Board, and Chief Executive from 1980–83 of the British Steel CorporationHarry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan, Chairman from 1930–50 of ICIAlexander Mackendrick, film directorAlistair MacLean, authorSaul Metzstein, film directorEdward Rosslyn Mitchell, Labour MP from 1924–29 for PaisleyShuna Scott Sendall, opera singerWalter Owen, translator of S.American poetry (Argentine gaucho epic Martin Fierro, etc.)Sir Horace Phillips CMG, Ambassador to Turkey from 1973–77, High Commissioner to Tanzania from 1968–72, and Ambassador to Indonesia from 1966–68Sir John Rennie CMG OBE, Governor of Mauritius (the last before its independence) from 1962–68Ian Rodger, Co-Founder of Scottish Opera Prof Archie Roy,Robert Service, poetIain Shepherd MBE, Navigator HMS Brilliant (Falklands War 1982) Appointed EU Ambassador of the Sea 2007, Chair National Oceanography Centre (NOC) Advisory CouncilMay Miles Thomas, film directorAlexander Trocchi, novelist who wrote Young AdamJean Turner, former Independent MSP from 2003–07 for Strathkelvin and BearsdenJonathan Watson, comedian. (Only an Excuse?)James Alfred Wight OBE, writer and veterinary surgeon from 1939–90 (pen name: James Herriot)Sir Charles Wilson, first Vice-Chancellor from 1957–61 of the University of Leicester, then Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1961–76John Young, Conservative MSP from 1999–2003 for West of Scotland.
