Any advice on Hutchesons Grammar/Hamilton College/Fernhill/Belmont

[Sunshinesash]

Hi everyone,

just looking on any advice or recommendations on the above schools? Looking independent for a few reasons, moving not an option just now and catchment not great so just wanted to get a feel if anyone has any real life recommendations?

thanks

My DS is at Hutchie. I’ve not really got a lot to compare it to but on the whole we are happy with it. There seems to be very little bullying according to him. He’s got loads of nice friends and the parents of his friends are lovely too. He is doing well academically. He’s also been on lots of great trips abroad (skiing, South Africa with rugby). Lots of varied extra curricular activities although my DS is only really into rugby and sprint club. The teachers we’ve met at parents evening have seemed very committed and nice too.
It’s expensive though!

The schools you mention are very different to each other... are you considering any of the other Glasgow private schools?

I have a child at St. Aloysius'. It's been excellent both for primary and secondary. It has a lovely, welcoming atmosphere. Fantastic level of commitment to the children making the most of their talents and opportunities with emphasis on helping others. Pastoral support is very strong. Academics are spot on, with excellent results. Approachable teachers. Plenty of good sport: rugby, hockey, basketball, football and a good offer for those not interested in team sports. Choir programme from P4-S6 and fab school shows. Lots of clubs. Trips for languages, sports, choir, classics, geography and skiing. Easy daily travel as the school is walking distance to Central and Queen St stations as well as school bus services.

I attended the open day recently and was very impressed and even how the children interacted with the teachers. It was a really nice day, I had certainly felt like it was more of a machine as it’s a bigger school but that’s my own opinion from years ago, I’m definitely hoping that my children will manage to get a space there as it does seem like a good all round school

Location wise the other Glasgow schools are just a bit too far factoring in transport and extra curricular etc. I went to school in the west end and we didn’t live there so it wasn’t ideal timing wise.

Ive heard lots of wonderful things about St Als and it definitely does have much better links for transport, but I’m leaning towards non denominational schooling for my children even though I was actually raised catholic and it does have a lot of benefits I feel that non denominational is better for us as a family.

Is Fernhill even still open?! I had friends whose daughters transferred from there to Hutchie because of the financial difficulties the school was in.

I think with the latest tax changes I would stay away from the smaller schools as so many are shutting down.

I only have experience of Hutche.

Hutchie has a high level of extra ciricular aactivities that the children must participate in, almongside the huge amount of homework the pressure is extreme and i think you have to be a particular personalitly to thrive in that enviroment, very driven, foccused and resiliant.

I know 2 people particulary well that went to hutchie, both very clever and both cracked under the pressure.

I’m another Hutchie parent. We are really happy with it. I don’t recognise what the previous poster has said about the extreme pressure and the compulsory extra curricular activities. There are loads of brilliant clubs on offer but they aren’t compulsory. It’s up to the kids which clubs or activities (if any) they do. My kids absolutely love the clubs they have chosen and are happy to do them at lunchtime, after school etc. They are great for making friends and experiencing new things. They also love going on the school trips that are offered - the USA, Vietnam, South Africa and lots of European locations. Pastoral care is excellent and the teachers are very approachable and responsive. I’ve never felt my kids are being put under too much pressure.

I actually went to Fernhill myself but it wasn’t somewhere we considered for our children. I think it’s too small and too limited. I don’t think it can compare to a big school like Hutchie in terms of facilities, opportunities and experiences.

I also don’t recognise the pressure at Hutchie mentioned by a previous poster. Extra curricular activities are encouraged (and in my experience boys especially need this encouragement) but definitely not compulsory. There’s a wide range of academic abilities and I really don’t see that kids who aren’t academic experiencing pressure. My DS has really thrived at Hutchie.
i would stay away from small independent schools like Belmont as I don’t think they’ll be open in a few years due to the tax changes.

Belmont parent here. Saw a few leave due to tax changes but a larger intake at the junior school which will filter through.

It has a more family feel to it- it’s so small that any poor behaviour is stamped out quickly and kids learn to coexist and just get on as it’s too awkward to have big teen drama.

Lots of good trips. Art and music depts are excellent.

If you have a sensitive kid who struggles with the power plays of large groups or rowdiness then it’s a good shout.

fernhill is doing well as far as I’m aware. If anything I’d be weary about hutchie closing their junior school building did they not?

Glasgow Academy Newlands would be my first choice

They have sold the building. The junior school has not closed.

Hutchie is selling the Junior School building in Kingarth Street and building a new junior school on the Beaton Road site so that the whole school is on one site. The Kingarth Street building is on the market with an entry date of August 2027.

Oh well. I was very wrong. Fernhill closing in June - amalgamated with St Als

It's not amalgamated with St Als, not sure where you got that info from?

Interesting reading about Fernhill. We’d been looking at it for DS but for now he’s steadfastly not wanting to leave his friends so we’ll see how he gets on in S1 next year then make a change if needed. DH did this and quite quickly asked his parents to switch to kelvinside so he’s of the opinion to let DS make his own mind up.

I was on the fence about Hutchie given its size which then makes Hamilton the front runner due to logistics but I’m not sure if it’s got as good a reputation as the others for the same money essentially?

some Fernhill staff members have been given posts at St Als no?

I think St Als have made provision for, in theory, all of the student cohort were they to move. But it’s likely that some will go elsewhere.

I think it leaves Belmont as the last small independent school in the area.

Yes possibly, but it's not a merger.