Bishopbriggs Academy

[Spanielfanatic]

Considering moving into the area. Can I get some thoughts on the academy? Is it as good as its reputation ?

Yes it's a great school - however all the catchment areas are changing, will be difficult to get a place if your on the boundary or just over so double check your mew house will fall into the new catchment area

Fantastic school both my kids went again double check you are in the catchment area as they are being very strict

I have a close work colleague who has two sons who went to Bishopbriggs so have heard all about their schooling etc.

She says the school is excellent and she had very little need to get involved with the school/no issues the entire time they were there, said the school are very communicative. They have high expectations of their pupils and are great at supporting them through options choices/supported studying/exams/UCAS applications etc. Both of her sons did very well with their exam results. They have a high percentage of pupils that go onto Uni.

The only negative thing she has said is they do handhold a lot and she thinks this contributes to a higher than average rate of uni drop out as once they get there they can't cope without the same level direction behind them.

She was concerned as heard about this, from other local parents and/or read somewhere, when her oldest was applying to uni (not sure if it is true or skewed by a few personal experiences, maybe someone from the school can comment better). Both her sons and another one of their friends dropped out of uni before the end of first year, but again this might just be based on her experiences.

@newnameswhothis what info do you have on catchment area changing? Haven't seen this anywhere.

@Prongate it may have already done, I'm working of conversations with a friend who's older daughter attends the school but younger daughter has been advised out with the catchment area and had to put in a placement request.

Having a quick google it might not be specific catchment areas that have changed but due to over subscription on schools so children closest geographically will be given a place first and furthest away will be rejected even within the catchment area once capacity is met.

Thanks @newnameswhothis

It seems mad that those living nearest the school are given priority actually as that end of Bishopbriggs is also closest to the other LA schools. Kids living further south would have to travel all the way through the town and into Kenzie/Kirkintilloch

The only negative thing she has said is they do handhold a lot and she thinks this contributes to a higher than average rate of uni drop out as once they get there they can't cope without the same level direction behind them.

I know a lecturer at Glasgow Uni who is closely involved with 1st years in one of the faculties. I mentioned this to them as I'd heard it said that East Ren had a high drop out rate, but couldn't find any evidence to support that statement. They said that East Ren didn't have A high drop out rate, it had the highest drop out rate - closely followed by East Dunbartonshire

They said the problem was exactly as you describe: the students weren't used to getting on with work themselves without handholding . My friend also had to cope with irate parents ringing up and complaining that their little darlings weren't being told what to do

In the interests of full disclosure: I went to Bearsden Academy (albeit a looooooong time ago ) but was always fairly self-directed anyway (had to do a lot of independent learning to catch up after being abroad for 2 years and only getting back 6 months before the O Grades ) and ds went to Shawlands Academy in Glasgow which was very strong on encouraging independent learning and self-starting young people.

Thank you for all your comments. I'm going to post a new thread for opinions on lenzie academy. If you know about that school please comment!

I speak on behalf of all residents of Huntly Court who enjoyed wonderful Christmas day today as guests of Mr Donnachey. staff and pupils.
We had a fantastic meal served by courteous, happy amazing pupils who could not have been more hospitable, capable and caring youngsters.
The whole Christmas atmosphere, music gifts and joy brought to us cannot be praised enough.
Congratulations to all for helping to make the day for everybody
Mr Stephen Joyce
Retired Heat Teacher/ original Turnbull High School

I have direct experience of one of the East Dunbartonshire schools mentioned and would disagree it's the handholding which is the problem, it's the expectation. Kids are expected to achieve, expected to get good Highers, expected to apply to university. They are not ever asked to consider whether they actually WANT to go to university, or whether they'd be better getting a job, doing an apprenticeship, travelling etc. DD is in her first year at uni and thriving but several of her friends are expressing the wish that they hadn't bothered and had taken another path instead.

Hmm. Oldest DC went to one of the schools mentioned. She and her friends are doing well at uni (almost finished).
DS recently had the opportunity (through school) to go to an engineering careers fair at one of the city colleges and came away inspired to do an apprenticeship because he doesn’t think he wants to go to university.
I actually think the careers guidance is way better than anything I had, but how that compares to other schools, I don’t know. Surely it’s the parents who set the expectations regarding post-school. I also thought Advanced Highers had quite a lot of self-directed learning. Fear of DC dropping out of university is not something I would be considering when choosing one of these schools. It’s pretty well known in HE that DC on adjusted entry from certain postcodes have far bigger challenges and are more likely to not finish first year. These are privileged kids for the most part in the schools mentioned.

Agree that Adv H has quite a bit of uni-style work with portfolios and reports and the need for referencing. DD is finding the school to uni transition having done 2 advanced highers in S6 much easier than people who came straight out of S5 without ever needing to reference or research on their own.