Johnstone High School

[SylvanianFrenemies]

We are looking to buy in (one of) various West of Scotland areas. A nice house has come up in Johnstone High School catchment. It doesn't figure highly in the rankings, but wondering if anyone has direct experience.

DC1 will be going up to secondary in a couple of years. She's bright, loves school and will probably be seen as a bit square once her peers are old enough to really take note of that sort of thing. So I'm hoping we find a school where the culture is accepting of kids who are not "too cool for school"!

Any thoughts welcomed.

It’s quite a mix of kids from nice areas and kids from very rough areas. The teaching is good but not sure there is a culture of it being cool to study or be bright. Hopefully your child would naturally gravitate towards children similar to herself.

Thanks melted. It's hard to know, I suppose, how kids are going to fit in as teenagers. Reassuring to hear that teaching is good. Definitely food for thought.

As previously said, Johnstone high is an ok school. Those who want to do well, do really well, and will find plenty of like minded children to mix with. There's loads of extra-curricular clubs, activities and trips, and most kids I know who go there, I.e. most in the village I'm from, are happy and achieving well. Your other option is St Benedicts, the Roman Catholic High, which my child goes to although not catholic, which is also a really good school, similar catchment, second to none pastoral care, extremely inclusive!

If you're really fretting, you could always apply for a placement at Gryffe, which is one of the top ten schools in Scotland, and fairly accessible from most of the J. High catchment area. It's quite oversubscribed though, and not without its own problems.

Thanks Esme, very reassuring. That's my main concern. DD loves school and is mega conscientious (may change, but consistent with her general personality!). I just want to be sure she goes somewhere that can accommodate that. Will also look into St Benedict's, though Dh is such a fervent atheist it will probably be a non-starter!

Gryffe is also on the radar, but know that most placing requests are refused, and I would rather DD go the same high school as her primary peers, if she wants to.

I'm assuming all the local primaries are much of a muchness, but any insights welcome ☺

As far as schools go if you can stretch to buying in Houston or Bridge of Weir I would. Gryffe is a great school. Something like 6th in Scotland. Johnstone is probably quite rough by comparison

Very little suitable, affordable property in Gryffe catchment. I am guessing one reason Gryffe does so well is because it is full to the gunnels of well supported, tutored middle class kids. I don't have any particular aspiration for my DCs to exist in a middle class bubble - but do want to give them great opportunities. Really hard to weigh up!

I’m not sure I’d be in a rush for mine to go to Johnstone High but I don’t think Gryffe is the be all and end all either. Mine are at Park Mains High and doing well. My son is really bright and the school are supportive and nurturing

I am guessing one reason Gryffe does so well is because it is full to the gunnels of well supported, tutored middle class kids. I don't have any particular aspiration for my DCs to exist in a middle class bubble

Bit of a generalisation there

Probably a bit, fair enough!

Interesting thread! We’re not a million miles away and I want to move so hearing about Gryffe school was helpful.

My friend has just chosen j high over gryffe. Head teacher of j high is excellent and doing great things so I hear. Good mixed school.

No direct experience but have friends with kids at Johnstone High and its not been great unfortunately. I also have a good friend who works in children's mental health and who has nothing positive to say about her experience working with the school.

I have other friends financially stretching themselves so their kids can go to the nearby private school to avoid Johnstone high.

I belief Gryffe is getting very busy and someone told me they are not accepting kids outwith catchment although no idea how true that is!

All three of mine went to Gryffe, and we were really happy with the school. Having moved from an area with the 11+, where two of them were at selective grammars, I felt that Gryffe had a much better mix of kids - and I honestly think the boys did as well, or even better there than they would have at the selective schools.

I don’t have any firsthand knowledge of Johnstone High, but the area is a nice place to live. If you want to meet up for a chat, @SylvanianFrenemies, just say.

Ohhh we should have a Johnstone area meet up @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

Gryffe still accepting a fair number of placing requests this year

www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/media/5756/Placing-Request-statistics-Secondary-schools/pdf/placing_request_statistics_secondary_schools.pdf?m=1579174896523

That would be great @Redglitter!

What’s Houston like to live? Or does anyone know if kids from the Brookfield new builds would be accepted at Gryffe? Thanks and sorry to jump on the thread!!!

The Brookfield new builds are not in the Gryffe catchment area, as far as I know, @Fedupwithmyhouse - sorry. But Houston is a nice place to live - we like it here.

The centre of the village has most of the amenities - pubs, paper shop, chemist, doctor and dentist, hairdresser, beauty salon, and post office, and there's a co-op a bit further out of the centre.

The centre is old, but there's been quite a lot of newer housing build round the village - but there's still a lot of green space too - there are some great places to walk a dog, and in the hot weather, the kids play in the river.

@Fedupwithmyhouse As SDTG said the Brookfield houses arent in the Gryffe catchment area.

Houston is lovely. House prices are expensive but it's a nice area to live. A couple of great restaurants too.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius maybe it's a Houston meet up we need. Didnt realise we were 'neighbours' 🙂

Definitely!!

Thanks for the info! I’m not sure if my kids would ever forgive me for moving them primary school

Thanks everyone, this has been so useful, lots of food for thought about schools and areas. Will definitely be in touch if we go for something local @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius.

Another question, if that's ok. Do any local primaries (Houston, Bridge of Weir, Kilbarchan) have breakfast clubs?

My daughter went to gryffe High school and Johnstone high school. I went to gryffe High.

If your family have money or you are very bright then you will be welcome at gryffe High. If you have any sort of problem or don't come from money then they will be counting down the days to see the back of you. The bullying culture especially with the girls is awful at gryffe high, I have old classmates who are still affected by it 20 years later.

I was very intelligent and hated every minute of gryffe high. My daughter flourished at Johnstone high.