Imagine pupils learning in the best environment. That is Eastwood High School in Newton Mearns. It stands as a comprehensive, non-denominational school. The school is located south of Glasgow. Eastwood High is a successor to Eastwood Senior Secondary School. That school opened in Clarkston in 1936.
Eastwood High School sits on Capelrig Road. It has a large catchment area that is both suburban and partly rural. The school stands in the grounds of Capelrig House. Capelrig House was constructed in 1769. It is a Category A listed building. This means it is of architectural and historical importance. Eastwood High serves Newton Mearns, Neilston, and Uplawmoor. Crookfur, Mearns, Neilston and Uplawmoor are its cluster primary schools.
A new state-of-the-art building replaced the 1960s structure. It opened in August 2013. The new building improved teaching facilities. These improvements include two all-weather pitches. There is also a new sports complex. Past student enrollments have exceeded 1500 pupils.
Eastwood High School has achieved several awards. It won a Scottish Education Award in 2005. The school also received an award for Multicultural Education. This came from the University of Aberdeen. Eastwood High has held Investors in People status since 2005. In 2009, Scotland’s Evening Times ranked Eastwood High seventh in West Scotland. The Herald Scotland listed it in the top fifty schools in Scotland in 2011. In that year, 21% of Eastwood High pupils achieved five or more Highers. Eastwood High gained a Silver award in the Eco Schools Scotland Award Program in June 2010. The school achieved Fair Trade School status in 2013.
Construction on the new Eastwood High School began in August 2011. The cost was £32 million. The building is now complete and functional. There is a swimming pool and sports halls. An all-weather running track and sports grounds are available. These are open to the public and clubs outside school hours.
HMIE last inspected Eastwood High in December 2006. The school gained a very favourable report. Only three points were identified for action. These were addressed by the local authority in 2008. A further inspection occurred in 2015. The report was very good. Pupils were noted as friendly and hardworking.
The school is structured into nine faculties. Each has a faculty head. This person has overall management responsibility. They also lead the learning and teaching. The faculties are English, Mathematics, and Social Subjects. Modern Languages, Science, and Technical Education/Home Economics are also faculties. Creative and Performing Arts, Physical Education, and BECS are included. BECS stands for Business Education and Computing Science.
Several notable people attended Eastwood High School. Amy Corbett is a designer for the Lego Group and a judge on Lego Masters. Sir William Kerr Fraser was a senior civil servant. He was also chancellor of Glasgow University. Ricky Gardiner was a guitarist for Iggy Pop and David Bowie. Kelly Macdonald is an actress known for Trainspotting and Brave. Peter May is an author and screenwriter. Tony Osoba is an actor from Porridge and The Demon Headmaster. Brian Robertson was a guitarist for Thin Lizzy.
Eastwood High School provides a flexible and stimulating learning environment. It sits in a mature woodland setting. The school’s teaching spaces wrap around a central atrium learning hub. Natural light floods this space. The design incorporates natural materials. These include corten steel and Caithness stone-walling. The bright and open central atrium combines teaching, learning, and social space. Upper floor open balconies provide access. This creates a vibrant school environment. The sports facilities include a dance studio, a gym, and a large games hall. Eastwood High School is more than just a school. It is a place of learning, growth, and community.