Expat parents have a range of options for schools and education in Glasgow. Public government-funded schools are free to attend, while private schools (known as independent schools) charge fees. Notably, Glasgow is home to some of Scotland's best-performing public schools, so parents should keep an open mind when deciding between public and private schooling. Education Scotland provides reports on both public and private schools, and is a helpful resource for investigating options.
State schools in Glasgow
Glasgow’s schools follow the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence, which divides schooling into two phases. The first phase is a compulsory Broad General Education, beginning at Nursery (age 3 or 4) and continuing through Primary (P1 to P7, age 5 to 11) and three years of Secondary (S1 to S3, age 12 to 15). At age 15, compulsory education is complete. The Senior Phase starts in S4 at age 16 and concludes with S6 at age 18.
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 placement request to Glasgow City Council for a school outside your catchment area, but placement isn't guaranteed.
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Independent schools in Glasgow
Glasgow has several private independent schools well worth considering, though private schools charge fees unlike state-sponsored schools. In some cases, there may be scholarship or bursary schemes available to assist with costs. These tend to be based either on need or on 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 searching for a school offering a foreign curriculum, you'll be out of luck in Glasgow. The only non-UK curriculum schools in Scotland are its five International Baccalaureate schools. Three of the five are within a 30- to 60-minute drive or train ride, while the other two IB schools are located further afield in St Andrews and Aberdeen. If you're willing to consider boarding options, there's a wide range of international schools in London.
Best International Schools in London
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Special educational needs in Glasgow
Special needs in education are addressed according to Glasgow City Council's 'Every Child is Included and Supported' policy. This policy operates through staged intervention levels, ranging from localised school-level intervention to multi-agency involvement. These stages ensure that support 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 require some extra support.
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Homeschooling in Glasgow
Given that there are no international schools in the city, homeschooling can be a good solution for expat parents living in Glasgow who want their child to continue with a foreign 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 are legally obligated to provide a suitable education according to the child's age, ability, and aptitude. Parents must prove this by complying with council investigation officers' checks, which usually occur once a year.
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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 they're learning a new language, maintaining 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 help ease the stress of studying.