Lomond School A GSG School

Curricula

International Baccalaureate: diploma - the diploma is the familiar A-level equivalent.

Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

Sports

Rowing

Sailing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Principal

Since 2024, Claire Chisholm, previously deputy head academic since 2015. She studied English lit, history and languages at Glasgow and her PGDE at Strathclyde. She was a teacher, then head of English, at St Andrews High School, Clydebank, then head of English, drama and media at Peter the Apostle High School where she later took up deputy headship.

Chatty, colourful and full of west coast charm, she is a welcoming breath of fresh air on a mission to transform curriculum, learning and teaching and clearly has an impressive command of her educational remit. We couldn’t find a parent with a bad word to say: ‘Warm’, ‘fantastic asset’, ‘all-round good person’. ‘She’s certainly got the drive and leadership to take it forward,’ said one.

Accessible office with its own front door means regular drop-ins by staff and pupils alike - and she’s not afraid to go out and greet a stream of passing junior pupils, all by name. Her dynamism is echoed in a very impressive all- female (except for the male bursar) senior teaching leadership team, bursting with enthusiasm and ideas. Smiling and forthright, they are clearly not afraid to change things in the interests of providing the best education.

Married to Gary who’s with the MOD at nearby Faslane. Two teenage children at the school. Loves reading and writing, along with travelling. Her two Cavapoos are also a passion.

Entrance

Non-selective at every stage. Main entry points are nursery, P1, transitus years (P6 and P7) and the biggest entry point, S1. Since adoption of IB, entry at S5 is also growing in popularity.

Entry to junior school is a taster day with informal ATOM assessments in literacy, reasoning and maths. Entrance to senior school is usually a maths and English written paper. No waiting lists. Ninety five per cent of the junior school move onto the senior school.

Exit

It’s early days but the introduction of the IB has led to over 90 per cent staying on for 5th/6th year. After that, most head to Scottish universities or colleges with Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow all featuring. Around 90 per cent get first choice. Some even enter university in the second year thanks to Lomond’s unique IBCP’s HNC core (more on that later). Most popular subjects are business and engineering related. One medic in 2023, and one off to an Italian university. One or two per year gain degree apprenticeships, which the school expects to grow as they expand their IBCP. Occasional students to conservatoires or drama college.

Latest results

In 2023, 92 per cent A-C at National 5; average IB score of 34. They began phasing out Highers and Advanced Highers in 2022. In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic results), 75 per cent A-B at National 5; 51 per cent A-B at Highers; and 73 per cent A-B at Advanced Highers.

Teaching and learning

The term ‘sector leading’ gets bandied about a lot in schools, but hold onto your hats, we think Lomond School is genuinely ahead of the pack. Yes, they follow the Scottish curriculum up to National 5s, but after much soul searching they’ve decided to largely abandon the standard Scottish diet of Highers in favour of IB. Nothing startling there, you say, but wait. The school has also addressed the one constant complaint around the IB – that its vocational career pathway doesn’t connect with FE/HE institutions/employers. So after considerable research and collaboration with universities and local industry, Lomond has created its own careers pathway as part of the overall IB programme.

So what does this look like? Well, it revolves around that old vocational standard the Higher National Certificate (HNC), which they’ve broadened out with two additional subject choices. They started with HNC business and ‘were amazed at how many university courses readily accepted this new pathway’. They followed this with HNC mechanical engineering and are now introducing a CP based around the National Certificate (NC) in activity tourism (already endorsed by tourism body, Visit Scotland).

‘This approach has been a real rejuvenator,’ says the principal – and parents agree: ‘They teach for the child, not for the group’, said one. The school says universities are responding so well that applications submitted in the morning are being accepted that afternoon. Some pupils are even being offered direct entry into year two of university. Furthermore, as links with local industry strengthen (think Babcocks, Rolls Royce, Aggreko) there’s a real prospect of many more graduate apprenticeships. ‘It’s a lot of work,’ one pupil told us, ‘but I think it’s going to be worth it.’ Parents tell us: ‘It gives everyone the opportunity to achieve’, ‘I am all for it’.

Add to this an IB inspired nursery and a junior school that have won national awards in numeracy and computing, and it’s clear why parents feel they’re getting an enriched education here. They told us of ‘inquiry and concept based learning’ all wrapped up in the idea of ‘learning how to learn’. Less cramming facts in, more letting the children ‘drive the learning’ and teaching them how to go about it. One junior school teacher told us with a twinkle, ‘We were studying government and I was unexpectedly crowned absolute monarch. Not that it lasted long – during lunchtime the class sent a delegation to the principal demanding I be dethroned.’ We’re glad it wasn’t during French or it could have been the guillotine.

Speaking of languages, we were thrilled to meet an MFL teacher on tour who said numbers are growing, thanks to IB. ‘They speak the languages rather than just learn the grammar,’ she explained. Science stands out too – it’s certainly the first time we’ve had a physics teacher chasing us down the corridor to demonstrate a heat transfer experiment. That’s science on the move for you.

Learning support and SEN

‘We support neurodiverse pupils – our mantra is if we can do a good job for a child we will take them, whatever their issues’, says the head. Head of learning support operates from the Support for Learning (SfL) hub in the senior school, plus there’s one full-time teacher dedicated to SEN in the junior school. All staff get training, with head of learning sharing specific strategies with relevant staff – confidentially where needed. Cambridge evaluation used in S1 to get an overview. In-class support favoured over extraction where possible. Parents we spoke to were delighted with the provision: ‘I know for a fact my child would get lost in the state system but Lomond have been superb.’ ‘They’re turning Aspergers into a superpower.’ Dedicated EAL teacher attends the boarding house during prep time to provide support.

The arts and extracurricular

The popular art department was busy preparing for the IB final exhibition when we visited. Students are clearly proud of this ‘proper gallery’ where they exhibit everything from sculpture and painting to jewellery and interior design. Budding artists can try for National 4/5, Higher and Advanced Higher Art and the IB visual arts. Plenty of trips to the Kelvingrove Galleries in nearby Glasgow or Loch Eil. Visiting artists a regular feature, including in the younger years.

Purpose-built drama studio is home to timetabled drama lessons from J4 upwards. National 5 and IB theatre studies on the curriculum for those who want to take it further. Performances popular across the board – we were completely charmed by a rehearsal of Snow White by the juniors. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever be brave enough to get up on stage, but they make it easy,’ one pupil told us. Pupils talk of a feeling of camaraderie – ‘It feels like we all get involved.’

It’s not every school that has the clàrsach or Celtic harp as one of the instruments on offer, but when you’re named after one of the most beautiful and famous lochs in the world, it’s only fitting. For its size, the music department certainly packs a punch. We scurried out of piping warm-up (best heard at a magnificent distance) and to get a taster of choir practice. ‘Five of our pupils are currently singing in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland,’ we were proudly told. There’s a jazz band, traditional music group (accordions, clàsach and fiddles) a brass ensemble, not to mention a 30-strong orchestra. Head of music currently working on bringing in more bassoons. Record numbers do music at all levels - and who could blame them with that amount of enthusiasm?

Plenty of clubs during lunchtimes and after school, ranging from fitness, eco club, crochet and even origami mindfulness. One parent said they couldn’t believe the ‘seamlessness of how the lessons flow into the clubs and activities’. Trips also popular, including to WWI battlefields, Tanzania and Morocco, Norway and Sweden and even Cambodia (lots of fundraisers to help off-set the cost of the latter). And because the school nestles in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, they have trips galore on their doorstep too. ‘Because we’re a small school it’s easier to jump in the school’s mini-bus and head off,’ the head told us.

Sport

If you’re hoping for a world cup winning drop kick from your child, then perhaps don’t chose Lomond. It’s an inclusive set-up, with the school’s aim ‘to get everyone involved in some kind of sport – promoting a healthy lifestyle is top of our agenda.’ Low numbers make it a challenge to field a team every week but, with regards rugby, they have joined forces with Helensburgh Rugby Club which has brought them on no end – and hockey, cricket and football all feature to a degree. Main sports facilities are a five minutes’ drive away – and there’s also Loch Lomond National Park, with plenty of opportunity for skiing, sailing, hillwalking and climbing. In fact, the extensive outdoor sports offering is one of the biggest attractions to overseas boarders. ‘We can’t believe we get to sail in school, not many kids get to do that,’ said one.

Boarders

Between 40 and 60 boarders, most full-time, with a small number of flexi-boarders from age 10 up, but the majority staying over at the weekend. Lots of international students, mainly from Germany, Latvia, USA, China and Nigeria and the Middle East. Some from the Western Isles and military families from the nearby naval base.

We arrived at the end of the school day to inviting smells of banana and blueberry muffins rustled up by matron. Every school brags about how homely their boarding houses are, but this one really is. Purpose built, Burnbrae was the first co-ed boarding house in Scotland (magnetic locks separate boys and girls dorms), where there are twin rooms until sixth form and a well-equipped central kitchen so pupils can cook if desired.

Weekends filled with extracurricular and local community activities such as ice skating, live music, rugby, scouts and taekwondo. Guest room on each floor where the pupils can invite a friend (as long as they’re under 18) or parents for an overnight stay. Head of boarding says, ‘We run this as a family home – they even come with us to Ikea in the mini-bus at the weekend if they feel like it.’ Astros and fire pit outside for evening and weekend use.

Head of boarding and partner in overall charge. Two tutors for girls and two for boys help during evenings, and stay overnight. Extra help from teaching staff in the evening to provide academic support. Seniors have a key to front door, but careful monitoring of extracurricular activities and drop off and pickups organised for any senior parties.

‘I was going to turn down my new job because I didn’t want my children to board, but gosh they love it. They even go back early on the first day back!’, one delighted parent told us.

Ethos and heritage

The school is an amalgam of Larchfield Academy for Boys, founded in 1845, and St Bride’s girls’ school, founded in 1895. The schools combined in 1977 and a partial rebuild followed, culminating in a relatively compact campus tucked away up on the hill in a Helensburgh housing estate with a killer view of the Firth of Clyde. Somewhat unprepossessing, and a little bit tired in places, it comes across as a modest place, with the grounds comprising a slightly higgledy piggledy mix of Victorian villas and purpose built blocks.

The senior school looks deceptively modern from the front and the light-filled entrance is corporate-like, even the carpet branded with a Lomond blue colour scheme. The rear of the school harks back to the past: the turn-of-the century St Bride’s Hall plays home to school musicals, opening its doors to the local community. Nursery and junior school children (up to J5) are taught in the beautiful listed building Clarendon, which is loved by the parents. Nursery is gorgeous, with wood panelling and a nook with fireplace in the arch. Lots of good old-fashioned fun in the playground where children were climbing, running and scoring goals. The large dining hall should get a mention too, with extensive offering of soup, salads and pasta. Uniform is classic, smart Scottish private school – tartan skirts, grey flannels and navy blazers.

Impressive former pupils include Charlotte Dobson (Olympic sailor) and television inventor John Logie Baird; WH Auden and Cecil Day Lewis briefly taught at the school.

Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline

The school’s small size works to the pupils’ advantage in terms of pastoral care. The mantra, ‘Every child is known’, is genuine. ‘It’s like a family, really’, one pupil told us. Head of pastoral works with a team including a head of year for S1-S3, a head of year for S4 and a series of assistant heads who each have responsibility for a group of their own pupils. They work with the school counsellor, nurse and head of SFL. All students are assigned academic mentors and buddies to provide personalised guidance and assistance throughout their educational journey. S6s trained by Childline in peer support as mentors and academic helpers.
Impressively, the school has recently embedded stress management skills, including box breathing, mindfulness, exercise, healthy eating, digital detoxing, sleep hygiene into the curriculum to equip students with practical tools for managing the demands of school life. One parent, whose family had suffered a recent bereavement, said the school ‘has been as supportive to me as to my children’.

The school also works with external agencies such as Young Carers, which runs a weekly drop-in session. Plus, they have their own ‘Forces for Good’ club tailored to help students with parents in the forces. Lots of clubs to support mindfulness such as crochet and origami. School participates in the Diana Award and have just joined the Schools Inclusion Alliance. LGBT lunchtime club also operates.

Discipline based on restorative practice, with suspensions very rare indeed. ‘We’re a small enough school that we can spot the need for corrective action early on.’

Pupils and parents

Perhaps because it is not well-known on the Scottish private school circuit, Lomond manages to avoid the Range Rovers at dawn mentality that infiltrates some school drop offs. We were struck by how grounded and friendly everyone was – and that goes for the pupils as well as the parents. Stepping back to let a row of 10 year-olds out of their class, they spontaneously shook hands, gave big cheesy grins and cheerfully said hello. Charming and pleasantly confident. ‘Everything we do is based on respect’, says the principal. Parents tend to be hardworking mix of lawyers, doctors, engineers and small business owners, with some MOD from nearby Faslane. Mainly locals (within five miles) looking for the best for their children. Second income often required to pay the school fees. Boarding house adds an international element – one told us, while delivering up a plate of Scottish scones, that the school was her ‘home from home’ and she wanted to stay in Scotland forever.

Money matters

Just over 10 per cent of pupils from Transtitus 1 (P6) - S6 on bursaries (three of those on 100 per cent). Average bursary currently £8,482.

The last word

Lomond is most definitely on the high road, with plenty of impressive ‘out of the box’ thinking to reinvigorate the standard Scottish academic offering. This small school offers a very warm family welcome too.

Special Education Needs

Two full-time learning support teachers give assistance to individuals who require it. Most who require help have mild difficulties-dyslexia, dyspraxia and so on. Voice recognition technology is being trialled to assist some pupils.