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Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

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Original poster

Glasgow private schools

22 replies

Ol288 · 06/12/2017 14:33

Hi all
It's been a stressful few months and we have made the decision to move our daughter from her high school.

Looking at Hutchesons Grammar and St Aloysius. We are keen on a medium size school which is nurturing and has good pastoral care support. Anyone with any experience of either schools?

Thanks.

OP posts:

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 06/12/2017 21:19

I'd choose St Aloysius over Hutchesons. I had a lot of friends at Hutchesons and neither they nor I can fathom what on earth their parents paid for.

Original poster

Ol288 · 07/12/2017 00:10

That's interesting. Why do you say that?

OP posts:

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 07/12/2017 14:20

I think they expected it to give them a head start and open up better opportunities later in life but really they did as well as anybody else in their exams etc.

From a mental health perspective the knowledge that your parents are paying through the nose for you to attend can be quite stressful.

Would she not be better jst switching high school or going to East Ren? ?

Lidlfix · 07/12/2017 16:25

How does the (constant) emphasis on Jesuit philosophies sit? There is Wee holy statement that they have to sign each piece of work off with. But then I'm a state school teacher thinking of my Wee spuds who might struggle to write that in a lesson.

Original poster

Ol288 · 10/12/2017 11:32

Thanks for your replies. Good to hear various opinions. I agree it can be financially stressful.
We did think about switching schools but a bit disillusioned with the local school system. My daughter will do well academically anywhere ... it's the other bits that I am worried about.

I am not Catholic but don't oppose their philosophies. Good ones to live by I think.

OP posts:

WaxOnFeckOff · 10/12/2017 15:39

I am not Catholic but don't oppose their philosophies. Good ones to live by I think.

The cover up of the rape of children kind of does that in for me. imo you will get the best pupil support in the schools covering more deprived areas (always a hit or a miss though and just going on what friends and colleagues tell me) but your DD would be unlikely to get that as she already has parental support. She would be far down the list. I think you are left with just finding a school where she has the opportunity to make friends that are of a similar mindset to her. She will get more support from a decent friendship group than from school/teachers who will probably have higher priorities.

Seniorcitizen1 · 15/12/2017 18:00

WaxOn - child abuse is not a catholic doctrine same as not one of scouts or private schools or football clubs etc etc etc.

WaxOnFeckOff · 15/12/2017 19:10

Senior - the difference with other organisations is that the people at the top didn't routinely brush it under the carpet on a massive scale and simply move the perpetrators to new areas where they could carry it on. The abuse in the catholic church is massive. Other organisations have had much smaller issues and much less cover up....and also don't pretend that they are better than everyone else at the same time. Awful money grabbing, child raping, child abusing bastards. The organisation is toxic.

Seniorcitizen1 · 15/12/2017 21:50

Wax - yes they did. All large organisations seek to protect the organisation at the expense of the individual, whatever the crime

WaxOnFeckOff · 15/12/2017 22:09

I can't understand why you are minimising the biggest child abuse cover up in the world senior but we are going to have to agree to disagree here.

Madhousemummy · 20/12/2017 10:27

OI we lost confidence in our state school and recently moved our daughter to Hutchesons’ - I would say it is one of the best decisions we have made. The school is extremely nurturing and in the short time my daughter has been there her confidence has came on leaps and bounds and she is doing extremely well academically due to the amount of teacher time compared to her last school. The children in her class are lonely and she has an exceptional teacher and she genuinely loves going to school. If I can help any further please PM me.

Kr1st1na · 20/12/2017 10:31

Hutchie is good but there are many state high schools in East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire which are just as good.

Would you consider these options for your daughter or are you set on private ?

Also which side of the city do you live on ? The High School is excellent .

Original poster

Ol288 · 20/12/2017 16:44

Madhousemummy, will pm you. Thank you!

Kr1st1na, she is already in one of the better schools. Doing well academically but it's not the most nurturing environment. Have since chatted with a few folk and it sounds like private schools do well at nurturing a well rounded individual. I think we are set on private rather than moving to another state school.
Have heard great things about the High School. Looking into Glasgow academy too. They all seem lovely!

OP posts:

Seniorcitizen1 · 22/12/2017 15:31

WaxOn - not minimising as it was an appalling scandle. Just giving some context as RC not alone in this. If you live in west of scotland you will know of the anti- catholic bigotry tjat is rife and many use child abuse as a further excuse for tjeir bigotry

LoveUtoTheMoonAndBack · 08/02/2019 22:59

I know this thread was started a year ago.
I have a similar question. We have applied for hutchesons grammar and St ALOYSIUS.
She got accepted in both the schools. Can anyone advice on a recent experience in any of these schools.

Havekidsneedcoffee · 09/02/2019 14:24

Hello, I went to Hutchie and think it was wonderful. I'm sure other private schools are just as good but can only compare to my previous state school in Ayrshire. I think it depends on where you live and where most of her friends would be. If her friends would be nearer you then Hutchie and otherwise the other option. I feel incredibly lucky to have gone there and had opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise. It was hard for my parents but to this day they said it was their best decision to send me and my brother there. I don't know if I'd have had different academic results elsewhere but I wouldn't have had the extra-curricular opportunities I had. I realise that is incredibly lucky that we could go. I feel forever grateful for it. I think I appreciated it at the time as my previous Ayrshire school wasn't the best so perhaps it would be different for your daughter anyway.

Rhumba · 21/02/2019 15:15

Have you asked for taster days. Certainly St Als do them and it was really helpful for my child to spend a day there. What year is your child applying for?

daisypower · 31/03/2019 10:28

I wouldn’t recommend St Aloysius at all

IM0GEN · 31/03/2019 11:55

You need to understand how strong the religious ethos is at St Aloysuis

Imurphymum · 01/04/2019 10:38

Daughter at St Aloysius and is extremely happy. She was in another private school in the west end for two years as it was closer to home. Whilst she was also very happy there we moved her back to st Als (where she was at kindie) for various reasons, she was way behind state equivalent in maths. In p,4 now and up to scratch

howabout · 04/04/2019 11:09

I would second what IMOGEN is saying. It is obvious even from their website so if you are happy with that then you will have an answer to that at least.

Hutchie is extremely academically focused, as its results attest. If you are looking for something with more options outside the traditional Uni professional pathways (doctor, lawyer, engineer) then it may not be for your DC (their website shows exam results by subject and leaver destinations which give a good feel for how broad or narrow the choices are in reality)

doolaley12 · 09/04/2019 14:31

Hutchie is very adademic however their pastoral care is also excellent. The opportunities for extra curricular activities at lunch time and after school are varied and hugely encouraged. My child and all their peers and thriving and enjoy lovely friendships with each other out with the school even though they come from all over.

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