Any current experience of Firrhill High?

[glasgowstations]

Firrhill seems to have been on an upward trajectory in recent years. We are moving to into catchment. Would be interested to hear from current parents whether it is as good as it sounds or whether would be better to consider private?

It’s one of the very few Edinburgh schools I’d have no qualms about sending my child to. That and Boroughmuir. It has been getting excellent results for a mixed catchment area school.

I have two children at the school - really pleased with how they are getting on. Great music and drama department, lots of extra curricular activities to choose from, pastoral care is very good. My two are both fairly academic and are getting well supported with progress. Very mixed catchment, but no problems with that.
Have a look at private if you have a spare £20,000 + per year, but I'm not convinced it's worth it and I went to a private school! You will know your child, though, and what's best for them.

I’m still wondering why there were 50+ exclusions of S1’s between August and September last year that resulted in an inspection of all the cluster primaries and how they seem to have no problems in this way yet the children transitioned to S1 and lots were excluded within 6 weeks.

@Donaldawheresyertroosers by exclusion do you mean they were suspended/expelled or sent out of class? Has that been reported somewhere?

They were not permanent exclusions. But the pupils were not allowed in school for a number of days. I’m a parent who was on a panel of parents for our primary school who had to be interviewed by the team inspecting at our school. I believe Broughton High School cluster underwent similar inspections for similar exclusions.

I moved to the catchment just prior to high school years. I was a bit worried but turned out alright.

DD1 has SEN and they have been absolutely brilliant with her. Such a fantastic team there and always one step ahead from the P7 transition onwards. It is a breath of fresh air when I fought so hard in primary for her! They really, really get her.

DD2 had a bit of a torrid time in S1 with bullying. I am not the slightest surprised to read earlier comments regarding suspensions but any of this above wouldn’t be exclusive to Firrhill either - in fact I imagine S1 to be a rougher time in other schools. They seem to try and reinvent themselves on arrival at high school. I think Firrhill could have taken a harder stand against our issues though, but I was like a dog with a bone and made them accountable.

Nevertheless - I still would sooner have my kids at Firrhill than anywhere else. My kids have been given fantastic opportunities, the classes they offer are eye opening as they get older, and the teachers have been brilliant. The head is truly passionate about the school , no doubt about it.

The reason why so many students get suspended is because of fights and bullying s1 is horrid they attack anything that moves theyre have been many incidents where students have had bones broken by other students, a boy had his head smashed onto a sink in the boys toilet and another boy being beaten so badly his ribs were cracked and his nose broken. The school does nothing about students being jumped unless it affects the schools image, this school has nice teaching facilities but in real life it's awful. Just think about sending your children to a school full of s1 that can attach you so badly you land in hospital

That experience is happening in EVERY Scottish high school though. The SNP have banned permanent exclusions. What do you expect the school to do? Until people stop voting SNP nothing will happen at all. The SNP have no interest whatsoever in protecting our children while they are at school. None.

Much better than it was in the past. Mixed catchment area. Slightly below Boroughmuir/Gillespie's/Balerno in terms of results but still OK.

Family friend is very happy with their kids there. The transition to S1 was very good. Apparently they had a be head(?) or deputy(?) in the last few years who is very strict on behaviour.

I also think the team of S 1 exclusions is quite a common thing. S1s often arrrive ready to “make a name” for themselves and the school has to have zero-tolerance to get it under control. I wouldn’t let that put you off.

I have several friends with kids there. They are all happy with the school.

These are households where private sector was on the table.