Allan Glen was born in 1772 in Pollokshields and lived on the family farm in the local community of spinners and weavers.

He became a builder and joined trades guild in Glasgow and build up a successful business in Glasgow.

He invested his money in property in the city centre, including John Street and Frederick Street in the area where the school would later be built.

In his will Allan Glen will instructed his trustees to build and fund a school for the sons of tradesmen to give them a practical education to prepare for trades or business. Allan Glen's school opened in 1853 three years after his death, aged 78.

It forged close ties with Anderson College which became Strathclyde Univeristy and developed as a centre of excellence for science and technical education.

The school went through various changes with different education acts but survived until the 1970s when it became a comprehensive keeping the name until it closed in 1989.

The school charged fees but provided bursaries including fees and clothing for those unable to meet the cost.

In 1911 it transferred to the local authority but continued under the same principles latterly charging only nominal fees and still providing bursaries. In the 1970s selection of pupils was out of favour and the school merged with City Public School as Allan Glen's Secondary losing the special status it enjoyed previously that the head teacher said the original Allan Glen's school closed in 1973.