Boclair or Bersden Academy?

[bubbly10]

Hi all, I am at the moment in the catchment area of Boclair Academy, but I am moving next month into the catchment area of Bearsden Academy. DS is in S1 at another school at the moment, that is near our old place, and we are considering transferring him to one of those schools in Bearsden that would be closer to our current house. At first thought, I would prefer Bearsden Academy so he would have the opportunity to make friends nearby. But we visited both schools and the first impression is that Boclair Academy is much more friendly. We had a tour there, done by three S6 pupils and it was amazing, the school building is old yes, but it seems very warm, colourful, friendly and welcoming. Then we had a tour at Bearsden Academy, and it was cold, too formal and quick (we just walked at a fast pace through some silent and unfriendly corridors, receiving no much information about where we were). DS is now a bit worried about going to Bearsden Academy and would prefer to go to Boclair Academy instead. I really want him to go to the place that he will be happier, and I think to go to the school that is in the catchment area of our new home would make a difference for the next years to come, if he can make friends in the neighbourhood.

I would like to ask if anyone has children going to either of those schools, could you please let me know if they are happy, feeling that is a good place to be, considering their general wellbeing? I think maybe my first impressions can be wrong so it would be lovely to hear from who has children going to those schools.

Thanks in advance

Bearsden Academy is in my opinion the best option

I have kids at Bearsden and they are very happy there. They have friends at Boclair and they are very happy there too.

Not much to choose between them really. Bearsden does better in exam results but only marginally. If you're living in the bearsden catchment then send them to bearsden academy all you'd be doing by sending them to boclair is condemning yourself to years of taxi driving to friends as they are going to be further away.

Basing the entire choice on the social skills of three sixth years seems strange. Plus you're banking on a placing request which is by no means guaranteed.

Have you checked just how many primary schools each one draws from? When my 2 were at Boclair, there were 4 feeder primaries but actually there were children from 24 different primaries in their year - some people stayed a long way away! However, I believe they draw from fewer primaries nowadays. A phone call to the school should give you the answer.

Bearsden is a 'new' school. Boclair is now on the schedule to be replaced (not before time!). You might want to check the planned timing, and what the arrangements will be: being taught on a building site? Or bussed elsewhere?

I think the plan for Boclair is to build the new school, move the children in and then demolish the old. Like they did with St Nicholas primary - built in the playground of the old St Andrews.

Boclair's replacement is going through planning at the moment, all the plans are on the E Dun planning portal if you're interested. Going to be at least summer before any building starts, then 2 years after that maybe?

If you’re going to be in the catchment area of Bearsden I’d just send them there. I’m biased as I actually went to Boclair myself many years ago and at the time it was considered better than Bearsden (my parents purposely moved to Boclair catchment over Bearsden) but it’s hardly like either of them are rubbish schools!