Glasgow Primary Schools- Parkview or Kelvindale

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

Hi, Anyone out there with experiance of primary schools in the Maryhill/West End area of Glasgow?

I'm in the catchment area for Parkhead so I'll get that automatically. I'm wondering whether its worth putting in a placement request for Kelvindale as well (we're actually slightly closer to this school although not in the catchment).

I'd be interested in your impressions/experiance of either school and also general tips about how to arrange a vist/what to look for etc..

I also notice that Kelvindale asks parents to inform their catchment school if they make a placement request and I'm a bit concerned about this. Any chance Parkview would hold this against us?

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

Can't help with the specific schools mentioned.

The way I understand placing requests (in Glasgow anyway) is that you register with your catchment school and inform them you will be doing a placing request. Once you do this your space at the catchment primary school is not garunteed anymore (particularly relevant if your catchment school has a waiting list). If you don't inform them you are doing a placing request then the school you have put the placing request in for can refuse you a place as you have technically accepted your catchment school.

Should you not be accepted for the placing request and your catchment no longer has a space for you the council will find you a space at another school but it might not be one you want. This was one of the reasons we decided to stick to our local school rather than take the chance of a placing request for a popular school just out of catchment.

[LunaLoveg00d]

I don't think that's necessarily true about placing requests and losing your place - you need to check that out. We're just up the road in East Dunbartonshire and it's not the way it works here.

Depends where you are, but Killermont in Bearsden is very good.

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

Thanks for explaining that Thanks, I didn't realise.

I think in that case, I will stick with the catchment school unless DS has a terrible time there or something seems badly off with it when I visit.

I can understand why the Scottish system is set up like that, to discourage shopping around. I wouldn't want to be facing the sort of zero sum scrabble for places parents face in England.

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

No problem. I do understand what Luna is saying as this won't be an issue for a lot of catchment schools. However I personally know 2 people who lost their catchment place due to placing requests (same year and same school).
The school in question was popular and had an in catchment waiting list for almost every year. They both got a space another local catchment school (RC one and not the non dom one they had initially registered with) so it worked out OK in the end.

I agree the English system looks a bit mental to me. I don't think I would have coped with the stress of it all.

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

I've checked the Glasgow City Council and Scottish Government website and both sort of imply that the place at the catchment school is secure even if you do a placing request somewhere else. Although it's not completely clear which is frustrating.

Can anyone point me towards a resource that might clarify for definate one way or the other?

I don't think I would handle the stress either Thanks! Its Dog-eat-dog over there.

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

Or...mixing things up a little...
theres the option of Gaelic School.

Anyone with experiance of this?

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

We looked at the Gaelic school and I was keen quite but DH was not. As a parent they like you to commit to learning the language as well. My biggest worry was that I would be unable to help DD with homework etc as I do not speak Gaelic myself. I know several people who send / have sent their children there. The standard of education is good and it frequently gets compared to being the closest you can get to private school without going private as it is well funded.

I'm sure someone will be along who has experience with the school but if not you could post under the Scotsnet topic (in the other section).

Glad I proof read my post as autocorrect changed Gaelic to garlic!

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

"My biggest worry was that I would be unable to help DD with homework etc as I do not speak Gaelic myself."

Yes that would be my concern as well. Plus the worry that his friends will be scattered about the city. I'd like him to have at least a few friends locally so he can have playdates and hang out.

My husband is very keen on it though!

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

The Gaelic school is oversubscribed so I wouldn't put all my hopes in getting a place there if you're not in catchment unless you are a family of gaelic speakers.

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

We're in the catchment although I'm told that doesn't guarantee a place anymore.
They also look for distance to the school within the catchment.
We are relatively close though so would be in with a shout I think.