Education and Schools in Glasgow

In Glasgow, as in the rest of Scotland, expat children have a range of public and private school options.

While public schools are free, private schools (known as independent schools) have fees. Notably, Glasgow is home to some of Scotland's best-performing public schools, so parents should keep an open mind when deciding to go private or public. Education Scotland provides reports on both public and private schools, a helpful resource for investigating options.

Glasgow’s schools follow the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence in which schooling is divided into two phases. The first phase is a compulsory broad general education, beginning at nursery (age 3) and continuing through seven years of primary school (P1 to P7) and three years of secondary school (S1 to S3). The senior phase starts in S4 at age 16 and concludes with S6 at age 18.

State schools in Glasgow

The vast majority of children in Glasgow attend state-funded public schools. Some of these schools are particularly well regarded, topping the list of best-performing state schools in Scotland year after year. Quality does vary among government schools as a whole, so thorough research should be undertaken before making any final decisions.

Schools are automatically assigned according to catchment areas, so this is an important consideration when deciding where to live. It's possible to submit a placing request to Glasgow City Council for a school outside of your catchment area, but placement isn't guaranteed.

Useful links

• City of Glasgow – Catchment Areas

Independent schools in Glasgow

Glasgow has several private independent schools well worth considering, though unlike state-sponsored schools, private schools charge fees. In some cases, there may be scholarship or bursary schemes available to assist with costs. These tend to be either based on need or academic merit. While private schools adhere to the local curriculum, they have more freedom in teaching methods and may have better facilities.

It is always worth organising tours of the schools, ideally during a school day, to get a feel for the school’s approach and ethos. Some topics worth addressing include the length of the school day, extracurricular activities, class sizes, assessments and possible summer school activities.

If you're in search of a school offering a foreign curriculum, you'll be out of luck in Glasgow. The only non-UK curriculum schools in Scotland are its four International Baccalaureate schools. Two are in Edinburgh, about an hour's train ride from Glasgow. The other two IB schools are located further afield in St Andrew's and Aberdeen. If you're willing to consider boarding options, there's a wide range of international schools in London.

Useful info

• Independent Schools Council – Private Schools in Glasgow

Special-needs education in Glasgow

Special needs in education are addressed according to Glasgow City Council's 'Every Child is Included and Supported' policy. This policy works according to staged intervention levels, which range from localised intervention at a school level to multi-agency involvement. These stages ensure that the support given is consistent and appropriate to the child's needs.

Expat parents may find it useful to know that Glasgow Education Services also offers specialised support services for children who don't speak English as a first language. The English as an Additional Language (EAL) service is available to all children attending nursery, primary and secondary schools. The service assists children of all English levels, from those just learning English to those who have been speaking English for longer but need some extra support.

Useful links

• Glasgow City Council – Meeting Additional Support Needs

Homeschooling in Glasgow

Given that there are no international schools in the city, homeschooling can be a good solution for parents living in Glasgow who would like their child to continue with a non-Scottish curriculum.

Parents must submit a notification to their local council if they wish to withdraw their child from public school and educate them at home. If the child is being withdrawn from an independent school or hasn't been enrolled in school yet, it isn't necessary to notify the council.

There aren't any restrictions regarding curriculum, and scheduling doesn't necessarily have to follow a fixed daily or termly timetable. However, parents do have a legal obligation to provide a suitable education according to the child's age, ability, and aptitude. Parents will need to prove this in complying with council investigation officers' checks, which usually occur once a year.

Useful links

• Glasgow Civic Council – Home Education

Tutors in Glasgow

Tutors are widely available in Glasgow, both online and in person. Expat children can benefit from tutors in a number of ways, whether it's acquisition of a new language, maintenance of the family's mother tongue or just getting some extra support as they get used to the Scottish curriculum. 

There are also tutors available for more general needs such as developing study skills and essay-writing abilities. Hiring a tutor in the run-up to major exams can also go a long way towards easing the stress of studying.

Useful links

• Saturday School Glasgow
• Kip McGrath Education Centres