A pre-war Modernist design completed after 1945 remains a working Catholic secondary school, its sculpted entrance joining educational ideal and restrained monumentality.
Quick facts
- Date
- Designed in 1939; construction resumed in 1949 and completed in 1953
- Architect / designer
- Thomas S. Cordiner
- Type
- Modernist brick, concrete and ashlar secondary school with chapel fleche and sculpted entrance
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB32571)
- OS grid reference
- NS 56266 67408
Architecture and continuing use
Long brick ranges with concrete bands and deep eaves flank a three-storey ashlar entrance bay. Arts and Sciences panels, a chapel fleche and carefully framed windows enrich the otherwise disciplined Modernist composition.
Its story
Thomas Cordiner prepared the design in 1939, but wartime interruption delayed completion until 1953. The school later changed from girls-only to co-education while remaining a Glasgow Catholic comprehensive.
Why it is included
The building bridges interwar and post-war school design and shows a major listed institution adapting its social mission without abandoning its original educational use.
What to notice
- The nailhead ashlar lining the advanced entrance walls.
- Carved Arts and Sciences panels around the principal bay.
- The small fleche and cross above strong horizontal concrete bands.
Reading the surroundings
This is an active school with safeguarding controls. View from public space only unless the council or school explicitly authorises access.
Timeline
- Designed in 1939 Thomas Cordiner prepared the design in 1939, but wartime interruption delayed completion until 1953.
- Present Active Glasgow City Council Roman Catholic co-educational secondary school.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The school’s online material changes across council and Glow platforms; current use is supported by the official school site and recent public recruitment material.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Notre Dame High School, Glasgow, LB32571 — Designation category, mapped location, construction phases, fabric, authorship and architectural interest.
- Notre Dame High School Glasgow — Official active-school site, curriculum, pupil support, events and continuing educational use.
- Notre Dame High School: contact — Current school contact route and operational identity.
Location
OS grid reference NS 56266 67408 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies a mapped National Grid Reference and a current official operator, responsible public body or institutional source confirms the Place relationship and present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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