Placement to Gryffe accepted

[WaverleyOwl]

Help!

So, we are in Renfrewshire and my kids go to Johnstone High. So, not the best of schools.

My oldest is going into S5 and he's fine. He's a practical soul and doing well where it matters. I can see him doing an apprenticeship or college course. He's very motivated and practical.

My youngest is in S2. He's had a hard time because he's not a typical boy's boy. This has been something all through school. He's always had a group of female friends and maybe one male one that is similarly attracted to the female friend group. He's into art and if it were the 2000s I'd say he was an emo, lol.

He's just been offered a place at Gryffe, which is one of the top 20 schools in Scotland.

If it were just my decision, I'd say yes, but he is clamming up and saying no.

Does anyone have any experience with Gryffe? I need information and opinions of people that have had children there.

Who's decision was it to apply? Why are you considering moving him now? If he doesn't want to move I'd leave him where he is. It's not like the schools are widely different, it's not a super selective private school with too class facilities, just a slight better on-paper state school. Don't underestimate how difficult moving school in the middle of secondary can be. Just because it's a 'bettee school' doesn't mean your ds will perform any better there.

Gryffe is a MUCH better school than Johnstone!

Tough one OP, did he know you were applying? What were your reasons?

Sorry, just coming back to this as there wasn't much engagement originally.

To @TartanMammy I think I explained why we put in the placing request. He's not doing well at Johnstone as he's not a 'boys boy' and his friendship group was not that great. He was doing fine, academically.

@StrictlyCoffee yes, he did know we were applying, but I think that all of us figured it would go nowhere.

Anyway, he's been accepted. We had a tour last week, and my son has agreed to give it a try. I've also got confirmation that if he wanted to go back to Johnstone, he could.

Honestly, touring the school was like night and day with Johnstone. It feels like its somewhere my more sensitive son could thrive. He loved the theatre and art rooms.

We'll just have to see how it goes.