Searching for the best possible education for your child can be a bit of an overwhelming task. Assessing the academic prestige of each school will be at the top of any parent’s list, but other factors such as school ethos, personality, tradition and emphasis on arts and sports can help influence your final decision. Both state and private schools offer a unique education and secondary experience within their own right, so it is important that you have at least some idea of the school’s culture.
Our marketing team here at AMC Removals have compiled a shortlist of Glasgow’s most prestigious schools, both state and private, to help narrow your search down.
The High School of Glasgow
In terms of history, not many schools can compare to Scotland’s oldest school. Established in 1124, The High School of Glasgow was initially founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral and later became known as Glasgow Grammar School. Honouring their roots, the school still maintains a relationship with the Cathedral by holding an annual Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving in September. Their proud list of graduates includes two British Prime Ministers, two Lords Presidents and the founder of the University of Aberdeen.
Its long list of accolades is backed up by consistent academic successes throughout the years, earning it a reputation of being one of the Glasgow’s best private schools. Here are some of the figures to give you a clearer idea:
- 1% of students gained A passes in their Highers
- 6% of students gained B passes in their Highers
- 88% of students gained five or more Higher passes
The school takes in both boys and girls, with fees per term ranging from £1,423 to £4,112.
Jordanhill High School
If you have the luxury of choosing between sending your child to a private school or a state school, then Jordanhill High School will certainly be one of your first state school options. Founded in 1920, the High School is unique among mainstream state schools in Scotland since it is funded by the Scottish Government instead of the local authority, Glasgow City Council. This is because of its role in teacher training.
Astonishingly, an impressive 91% of students gained 3 or more Higher qualifications last year. Its consistent and stellar academic achievements led them to it being ranked 1st in The Herald’s Top 50 State Schools in Scotland! Here’s a short summary of its academic performance:
- 81% of school leavers gained 5 or more Highers
- 64% of school leavers gained 1 or more Advanced Highers.
The Glasgow Academy
The Glasgow Academy is seen as one of Scotland’s top private schools for both academic and social reasons. The school recently stated that 85% of its graduates gain places at Scottish universities and 13% at English universities. Whilst it has consistently displayed stellar academic performances to justify any parent spending a huge amount of money on school fees (see below), a factor that perhaps makes it more unique is being one of the select number of schools in Scotland which are Stonewall School Champions, an LGBT initiative that provides special training and support for staff and pupils against any form of homophobic bullying.
Glasgow Academy has evidently struck a winning formula in producing successful students, which is clear to see when viewing their long list of notable alumni, which includes John Beattie and Sir Angus Grossart. As you can see below, they fare quite well:
- 4% of students achieved an A grade in their Highers
- 85% of students graduating from Glasgow Academy go to university
- The pass rate at Higher level in 2017 was 97.36%.
Glasgow Gaelic School
As you would have probably guessed, Glasgow Gaelic School differs from other schools in Scotland by being Gaelic-medium. Studies have shown that learning a second language offers a number of benefits to cognitive function. Since the school teaches most secondary subjects in Gaelic, expect your child to graduate with a second language under their belt and a unique advantage in the job market for the years to come. There is no catchment area as the school serves the whole of Glasgow.
Now what about the quality of their education? Well here are the stats:
- Ranked 6th in The Herald’s best state schools in Scotland in 2017
- 70% of graduates leave with 5 or more Highers
- 69% of pupils reached the national benchmark in their exams
Hyndland Secondary School
Hyndland Secondary School is regarded as one of Glasgow’s most prestigious secondary schools due to its competent performances in exams throughout the years. Although it may not quite hit the same heights as Jordanhill High School in terms of Highers, it certainly fares well. School isn’t just about robotically hardwiring your students to learn how to detect pitfalls in exam questions and earn a place at a university. Hyndland Secondary School is one of the only schools in Scotland that doesn’t make school uniform compulsory, which instils freedom of expression into pupils from a very young age. Fashion is a form of expression, in which our tastes and beliefs can be symbolised merely by the clothes that we wear. Being a graduate of a school that had no uniform myself (James Gillespie’s High School), I am all too aware of this.
Now, getting back on track, I am assuming that you will want to see some stats, and here they are:
- 55% of graduates leave with 5 or more Highers
- 53% of students met the national benchmark
- Ranked 2nd in Glasgow’s best state schools
