Hermitage Academy, Helensburgh

[Ditherydora]

Are there any parents out there that can give me any thoughts about what Hermitage Academy is like now? We are thinking on moving to Helensburgh from Glasgow. I'm not that sure about it and looking at the school report from 2017 it didnt look great, although the report from 2019 was much better?
Part of the reason for the move is because DD1 feels kind of isolated at her current school, so not keen to make sure it's rhe right move. We also looked at Lomond but that would be tricky financially. Thanks

I live in Helensburgh and although my son is only P1, I know from other parents with older children that the Academy is getting better. It's definitely not amazing, but better than it was in 2017 from what I gather

Thanks Hilbil. Good to hear it's improving. I can't quite follow from the earlier HMIE what the issue was.
I don't think we need amazing, as DD1 will work reasonably hard anyway as long as there is the right kind of structure and the kids are ok.

What year would she be going into? One of my close friends has an S1 and and S5 who both enjoy it there. If you have any other questions about Helensburgh let me know 🙂

She would be going into S2, probably in January so she would have time to see if it suited her before any critical study starts.

How do you find living in Helensburgh? My family are all keen to move but I get slight panic attack every time I think about leaving the city!
Also, in non-covid times do you know if there are any drama classes locally?

Thanks again for replying. I dont know anyone locally.

I've lived in Helensburgh for 28 years. We moved here when I was 12 and I'm now 40. I worked in Glasgow for 17 years Monday - Friday and it wasn't too bad a journey each day, you won't be as far from the city as you might think.

It's a nice town to live in if you have a family. Before I met my husband, got married and had my son I was bored and considered moving but that was mainly because it's no good for single people who are looking for decent nightlife etc

There is a number of community groups and in non covid times there is a group that stage a pantomime in the local halls, I'm not sure if they do drama all year round though.

There's also a Morrison's opening at the beginning of December which is exciting haha

the issues were mainly to do with the approach to the exam stage of CfE - no exams in 4th year, and then kids sitting the level appropriate for them in 5th year (with the aim that the capable kids would sit 6 highers). They now do a more "normal" approach and there was a new HT appointed a few years ago although he's leaving at christmas I think.

Ian Macleod drama classes are still running on a Saturday but are in Rhu rather than Helensburgh. where do you live at the moment?

Yes, I wasn't thinking that it would be a hotbed for nightlife . Interesting about the commute. I have a health condition that can knock me back if I overdo it. However post covid I am probably only going to have to commute twice a week so should be manageable.
It's really a bit of a compromise for us. DP was pushing hard for Cove, or even Arrochar or further north. I felt that wasn't very practical for teens and I didn't want to become a taxi service. Left to my own devices I wouldn't go further than Milngavie but no one else wanted to go there!! That said, I do really like Helensburgh when I visited and it seems to have a bit of community about it. And lovely to be by the coast.

We might also come back to the city for the kids drama classes then. Especially DD2 who is a natural performer [show off].

And very excited about Morrisons

Thats interesting Sturmundcalm. DD1's current school has a 2 year higher pathway and there are mixed views about the merits of that approach. Although DD1 is dyslexic she is quite able and she does seem bored at times.

We are in Hillhead.

I will check out the Ian Macleod classes, thanks.

Yeah having had friends in school from both Arrochar and Cove I definitely agree that if you live out there you really are "out the way". Helensburgh is a good compromise.

I don't know what kind of houses you prefer, but there's a new development of Bellway homes being built next year here I think.

There is an amateur musical theatre group which teenagers are also involved in which might suit?

I always thought Ian McLeod was dance classes, that's good they do drama too

I got Dd out of there in 2016, it didn't work for her at all, the pastoral care was non existent, that said her friend/bf did fine but Dd has (still undiagnosed, no thanks to them), autism.
I know several other autistic kids who were managed out too.

Thanks IhaveBrilloHair. Useful to know. How did you decide on a different school? Dd1's friends seem to spend more time at pastoral care than anywhere else. There seem to be quite a few kids in her class that are quite disruptive and that creates issues, particularly in PE and practical classes. She doesn't get bullied, probably as she is about a head taller than the rest of the class and pretty good at martial arts. .
I'm thinking now that we will give Hermitage a go and if it doesn't work out she could go to Lomond from S3.

The musical theatre group would be good for DD2 as well.

I got Dd into Hyndland but I had a very specific circumstance which most don't, they were so much better with her, plus she loved hanging out in the west end!
She's at college in Glasgow now and lives there with her Bf, (they've been together since 15/16, he did brilliantly at Hermy, got an unconditional to Glasgow Uni in S5)
I'd certainly try it its really the only school unless you're Catholic or can pay!

Thanks Brillo. Hyndland does have a good reputation and I can see it might well suit given what you've said. Seems as though Hermitage suits some but not others, like most schools I guess.
Sweet that your DD and bf have been together since 15!

They've lived together since July last year, but just recently got their first lease just the two of them, and a cat!
Hermy definitely does work for some, no doubting that, but I found that they didn't grasp individuality at all, and unless you were doing well and needed no extra input then forget it.
They weren't happy about me moving DD, (which was none of their business), and even though I'd spoken to them repeatedly and informed them, they still called me several times to ask why she was absent.
Well, that's because she no longer attends your school!
It was bizarre.

To answer your question about living here, it's got a good community spirit if you want to get involved, there's good places to eat and drink in a family minded way, v easy access to Glasgow which was important when Dd was a teen, and even for me if I want to go to a gig.
The cinema is great, and about to reopen, lots of groups to join, local shops aswell as a few chains such as Costa, and we're about to get the Morrisons.
Lots of people say there is a big divide between the haves and have nots but I don't feel it, and I live in an HA property.
If you want a town with easy access to the city or country, I can't recommend it enough.

A cat is definitely commitment.

The Hermitage issues you've described do sound strange. I am going to try and arrange a visit for DD as well so that much help give her an idea of what it will be like.

I'm really encouraged by what you say about the town too. I like that there different demographics. I had wondered if it might be a bit Stepford Wives which I wouldn't be so keen on. Mine ans DPs families are a mix of haves and have nots so hopefully we will fit in with both.

It is definitely not Stepford Wives.... more Navy wives 🤣🤣

I could tell you the entire tale of the past problems at Hermitage Academy, as I was on the Parent Council at the time. Suffice to say a mixture of exam mix ups, and the fact that the council took tons of teachers away from the school because of cut backs, made things very bad for a while.

From what I've heard (no children there now, but lots of friends with children there) things are much better, however the HT is about to leave, so things might change again.

I had all my DC through the school, when there were problems with the curriculum, I got tutors in the subjects to help them out. It's definitely a good school compared to many, but not perfect.

I agree, stay close to Helensburgh, the further away you are, the more you end up driving to pick DC up. I hope you find somewhere lovely to live, we have a loch view so it's perfect.

Thank you Auntymabel. Really good to know things are much better. Hopefully the council will choose a new head who can build on the improvements already made. Would be a problem if things slipped back. We will need a tutor for DD1 anyway I think so it's probably more important that the school provides the right kind of learning environment. Lots of kids at her current school have difficult social and family issues so her relatively minor problems get overlooked.

We think we have a house, subject to getting mortgage sorted. No loch view but very nice nonetheless.

I used to work at Hermitage Academy in the early noughties. It was better then but the thing to be aware of is that the postcode may cause problems for your child.

Many of our pupils struggled to get onto training courses because many training opportunities in West Dunbartonshire are not available to Helensburgh area. In addition, Argyll and Bute training opportunities tend to be Oban based.

For further and higher education, you need to travel into Glasgow or Clydebank. For apprenticeships, there are too few in the Helensburgh area and again you need to travel.

That's one of the reasons Hermitage has a high number of people going into FE and HE because there is nothing else on their doorstep - doesn't mean FE/HE is the right option for them, but that its easier just to jump on the train than it is to get an apprenticeship on your doorstep.

Even for several out of school activities you also need to live in West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow or Oban. Its very postcode based.

And for particular support if you were having difficulties, again you couldn't always access the support on your doorstep, the pupil had to travel to Oban.

There is very little for teens to do in Helensburgh either.

That's also very useful to know. Dd1 is already set on going to HE away from home, so hopefully the postcode issue won't be too much of a problem.

I suspect teens will be coming back to Glasgow for activities too. Part of the reason I insisted on being on the train line.

Definitely on the train line I can't emphasise that enough.
It also means as a family, or adults once your Dd is older you can wander into town in the evening, especially in summer for a drink or two with good food, or the cinema or just a stroll along the front.
It's at it best in Spring/summer and the cherry blossom is stunning.
Going away for Uni can be quite close, Glasgow feels like another world I think, Edinburgh is on the train line to so you can still see plenty of them, and them you if they want when the time comes.

@Ditherydora was out a walk round the town this morning and was thinking about you and wondering what you had decided.... is a big move on?