Jordanhill School

The Good Schools Guide Review of Jordanhill School, Glasgow, G13 1SP

Our View

Outstanding, with an inspirational, slightly left of centre rector. Better resourced than many schools in the independent sector - and it’s free. A beacon - Glasgow independent sector eat your heart out.

Rector

Since 1997, Dr Paul Thomson BSc PhD Dip Ed (fiftyish), educated at Dollar Academy and took combined honours in maths and physics at Glasgow University, where he also did his PhD, and then did his teacher training at Jordanhill College next door. Started his teaching career at Boclair in Bearsden, followed by Chryston High School, where he was principal teacher of physics, then assistant head at the Vale of Leven and depute head at Hermitage Academy: a speedy career path. Dr Thomson, whose wife is depute head of St Margaret's High School in Airdrie, has two children; he is also exceedingly keen on cooking. That apart, he has a fearsome intellect and spouted facts and figures faster than most heads we have met, adding all the while 'that it is available on the web page'.

Jordanhill is the only direct grant-aided non-special school in Scotland, runs its own budget and indeed so does each department. A block grant comes from the Scottish Executive Education Department to whom the school is answerable. Dr Thomson regards himself quite rightly as a CEO, working 'with the staff' and running the place with a budget of £5,000 per child per annum. Was one of the youngest heads – state or independent – in Scotland; he says he has no intention of moving, though he obviously misses teaching, and his entire demeanour changed during our tour round the school: whenever we found a child to be talked to – about anything: gone was the efficiency question-answering model and in its place appeared an interested smiley friend. (He also does all the 'early' UCAS references.) But youngsters apart, we suspect he does not tolerate fools with ease (he thinks he has 'mellowed a little' recently). The school has just constructed a new all-weather pitch and extended the refectory. A major new teaching block was completed in May 2008. Unlike many heads, Dr Thomson regards this as a pupil necessity and therefore worth spending time and thought on, rather than as an end in itself to glorify Jordanhill and his own cleverness in getting the funding.

Academic Matters

The school is inclusive, but is still the most successful state school (albeit grant-aided) in Scotland. Four classes of 25 (rather than the trad legal limit of 33) with practical classes of 15 (max 20). Some setting in maths and French. French from primary, Spanish taster at 13 and enormous success with credits all over the shop at intermediate II; German is available in S5 and S6. The school plies both standard and intermediate II (and results have become sharper in the last eight years). English, French/Spanish and maths results are impressive, as are art, biology, physics and chemistry. Masses of external activity in the science department with pupils doing project work with the University of Lyons, taking part in the Royal Society of Chemistry quiz and challenges run by Paisley University.

Outstanding music results. The recent HMI report praises the economics results. Higher psychology in conjunction with Anniesland College and a good partnership developing. Terrific art. Excellent use of computers – everywhere, in the artrooms as well as the classrooms, three hundred of them, interactive whiteboards all over the place too. Smart new media studies room which doubles for English, having interesting star-shaped six seater tables and two overhead projectors with an interactive whiteboard. Pupils won a prize with their first film. One of the best equipped schools we have visited - ever. Clusters of laptops motor round classrooms.

Homework clubs and some homework on line. Ditto supported study. Several groups of pupils doing research projects have direct links with staff. Power point demos by all, from P7; P6 are observers and rector then discusses the P7 presentation with them (face lit up like a beacon when he described this). Loads of interaction. Evening support classes for exam years, labs are open at lunchtime and post school. Good modern library, more computers and even more in the careers department. Special needs well catered for - 'If they can cope then we will take them, unless their needs are such that the school cannot accommodate them', some pupils have a record of needs. Two dedicated staff who work across both primary and secondary schools, plus a host of pupil support assistants, scribing where necessary. Lifts and ramps all over the shop. With one or two exceptions, the staffroom looks incredibly young and vibrant.

Games, Options, the Arts

Fantastic games and oodles of caps – capped pupils wear green ties. Rugby, hockey, football, volleyball, basketball and athletics. Two gyms and a recently acquired sports hall nearby. Stunning if cramped art complex - new and expanded department being created in the new building. Excellent art on display all over the place. None of it too big, but impressive. Kiln and new silk screen machine in place. Sculpture and good CDT. Drama strong, though not the biggest studio we have seen. Inspiring music, with specialist staff from P6 up. 'The best music department in the country,' says Dr Thomson - 300 plus pupils play an instrument, 26 different ensembles, serious orchestras. All swinging, and particularly keen on composing.

Clubs for everything, chess particularly popular - a current pupil is in the international squad. Hot on debating, and citizenship. Home economics a serious contender now, but rather more post standard grades, when students also study international cuisine (head's face lit up again). Ambitious outdoor education programme with pupils spending afternoons or weeks away depending on year group: Raasay, Castle Toward, senior pupils have a bi-annual trip to the developing world, part project part tourism (forty in Thailand when we visited). World Challenge in Malawi in 2007. Oodles of trips abroad: Euroscola at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Paris, Spain et al. Massive charity involvement - both fund-raising and community work in the locality. Jolly pupil-produced school mag, clearly laid out with brilliant editing – nice one, easy to read, with none of the trendy under shadowing that doting grannies find so irritating (not to mention GSG editors).

Background and Atmosphere

Founded in 1920 as a demo school for Jordanhill College of Education and became direct grant aided in 1987. Handsome classical grade B listed building. Rector has stunning panelled offices (think Eltham Palace); super huge classrooms with wide pupil-proof corridors. School surrounded by (some) games pitches, but a high fence now divides them from the university. Strong links with local Jordanhill Parish church. Strong links too with Glasgow state schools - joint improvement meetings for staff and pupils, whilst the latter have a joint pre-vocational programme, plus Your Turn project involving pupils across the city. Pupils from other schools can come to Jordanhill to pick up the odd higher or advanced higher not catered for in their own schools.

Pupils are neat in brown uniforms – except for the primary when we visited, who were in mufti, as were their staff, the head of primary particularly dashing in a black T-shirt. Efficient and fairly unforgiving uniform guide-lines in the prospectus supplement. Sixth year have a dedicated commonroom and two separate ones for boys and girls in S5 - the new build will give them better social areas. JOSS operates an after-school club for tinies in the nearby church hall.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

Four houses - the heads of houses are guidance staff with a combined office and interview rooms. Pupils have tutors who are responsible for PSE and the school policy is to clamp down hard on any form of bullying. Neither Dr Thomson nor his predecessor have ever permanently excluded; a clearly defined code of sanctions, including letters home, litter duty (brill) and detention. Regular links between sixth form and littles - combined reading and the BFG club. Minister from Jordanhill Parish church takes assemblies, but this is an ecumenical school, with all religions’ festivals observed - rector is keener that pupils learn ‘to conduct themselves properly in church’ and understand other faiths (by, eg, visiting local synagogues, mosques and temples) rather than pay lip service to any particular religion.

Pupils and Parents

Serves a predominantly owner-occupier area - professionals, who form an enthusiastic parent- teachers association, with parent volunteers in primary department and loads of fund-raising. Seven per cent ethnic minority.

Entrance

Inclusive, by address, over-subscribed, waiting lists. Siblings get priority. Some places (never advertised) available post standard grades. First come, first served.

Exit

Some 75 per cent to university. Trickle to Oxbridge, certain number to universities down south - Imperial for engineering, Liverpool, Manchester, the odd musician to the Royal Academy of Music, and tranches to art school, with or without a foundation course. But most stay in the west of Scotland. Dentistry, medicine and veterinary school all popular.

Special Education Needs Survey

SEN Statement

Jordanhill School operates within the terms of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. Specific conditions apply due to the school's grant aided status. Relevant policy statements can be accessed through the 'Parents' section of the school web site.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Aspergers Syndrome Mild
Aspergers Syndrome Moderate
Aspergers Syndrome Severe
Autism Mild
Autism Moderate
Autism Severe
Semantic Pragmatic Disorder
Other Autistic

Behavioural Difficulties

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Attention Deficit Disorder Mild
Attention Deficit Disorder Moderate
Attention Deficit Disorder Severe
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders Mild
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders Moderate
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders Severe
Emotional and behavioural difficulties Mild
Emotional and behavioural difficulties Moderate
Emotional and behavioural difficulties Severe
Conduct Disorders
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
Oppositional Defiant Disorders
Tourettes and other tic disorders

Genetic and related Disorders

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Down's Syndrome Mild
Down's Syndrome Moderate
Down's Syndrome Severe
Fragile X
Other genetic

Learning difficulties

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Moderate learning difficulties
Profound and multiple learning difficulties
Severe learning difficulties

Specific learning difficulties

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Dyscalculia Mild
Dyscalculia Moderate
Dyscalculia Severe
Dyslexia Mild
Dyslexia Moderate
Dyslexia Severe
Dyspraxia Mild
Dyspraxia Moderate
Dyspraxia Severe
Other Specific Learning Difficulties Mild
Other Specific Learning Difficulties Moderate
Other Specific Learning Difficulties Severe
English as an additional language

Sensory Impairment

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Hearing Impairment Mild
Hearing Impairment Moderate
Hearing Impairment Severe
Multi-sensory Impairment
Speech and Language Difficulties
Visual Impairment Mild
Visual Impairment Moderate
Visual Impairment Severe

Medical and Related Needs

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Cerebral Palsy Mild
Cerebral Palsy Moderate
Cerebral Palsy Severe
"Delicate" children
Epilepsy
Eating disorders
Physical Difficulties (Not indicated elsewhere.)
Other

General Questions

Are all children tested for SEN on entry to the school?
Please outline the screening programmes used by the school.		See policy on 'Assessing Children's Educational Needs' on school web site.
How many children with statements of need or equivalent do you have in the school?		2
Do you make special provision for exceptionally gifted children?		There is a large number of gifted children in the school.
Please outline what is on offer for such children
Please indicate if the school has or has available to it any of the following:
Behaviour Support Unit.
Learning Support Unit.
Pupil Referral Unit.
Other withdrawal.
Specialist language centre
Schemes or Initiatives such as SHARE or Playing for Success.
Please indicate if the school has any of the following characteristics:
SEN accreditation, for example by CRESTED?
Centre of excellence for SEN that is Not already outlined?
Good wheelchair access
Provides outreach support?
Receives outreach support?
Do children with SEN participate fully in sport and other extracurricular activities?
Please provide information on staffing. Does the school have:
A SENCO or equivalent?
Staff who will administer prescription medicines to a child
Qualified teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment(please say how many, in full-time equivalent).
Non-teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment(please say how many, in full-time equivalent).
Please list specialist qualifications held by teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment.
Please list specialist qualifications held by non-teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment.

School Features

Curricula

Scottish curriculum

Comments

Be the first to comment on this school.

Please login/register to comment.