Hutchesons' Grammar School

Hutchesons' Grammar School is an independent day school for boys and girls aged 3–18 in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded as Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School by George Hutcheson and Thomas Hutcheson in 1641.[1] Prospective pupils must sit an entrance test and interview to gain admission. The Boys' and Girls' schools amalgamated in 1976, at the grounds where the Boys' school had moved to almost two decades prior to form the current senior school. The Girls' school campus became the junior school and in 1994, a new pre-school block at the junior school was constructed. The school now has around 1,300 pupils across its Pre-school, Junior and Senior Schools.

Hutchesons' Grammar School
Location
Glasgow
,
G41 4NW

Scotland
Coordinates55.8363°N 4.282°W / 55.8363; -4.282
Information
TypeIndependent day school
Private school
MottoLatin: Veritas (Truth)
Established1641 (1641)
FounderGeorge Hutcheson and Thomas Hutcheson
RectorColin Gambles
ChairmanAlistair Marr
GovernorHutchesons' Educational Trust
Age3 to 18
HousesArgyle
Stuart
Lochiel
Montrose
Publication"The Hutchesonian" & "Hutchie Herald"
Websitewww.hutchesons.org

The school is one of the 20th oldest schools in Scotland and counts The First Minister of Scotland, Several members of the House of Lords and the first female lawyer in the United Kingdom among its Alumni.

The school is governed by Hutchesons' Educational Trust.[2]

The Rector is Colin Gambles.

History
Thomas Hutcheson (1590–1641).[3]

The school was founded in 1641 by brothers Thomas and George Hutcheson.[1]

In 2001, the school expanded into Glasgow's West End when it merged with Laurel Park School and created a nursery and primary school on Lilybank Terrace, although this has since closed.[4] The building suffered heavy damage in a fire in November 2008, and again in early 2019.[5][6]

In 2021, the schools purchased a new sports complex in Pollok Country Park, previously owned by Craigholme School. Consisting of a games hall with rock climbing walls, a dance studio, an astro turf pitch (primarily used for hockey, but additionally used as tennis courts in the summer term), grounds for an additional rugby field and space for a new outdoor learning area. The Campus is known widely throughout the school as 'H@PP', an abbreviation for Hutchesons' at Pollok Park.

In 2022, the school obtained new playing fields also inside Pollok Country Park. The schools decided to acquire these fields as they are near to the school's other sports grounds.[7]

Affiliations

Hutchesons' is a member of many associations that represent independent schools throughout the United Kingdom. They include the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), an organisation founded in 1869 which represents a select few independent schools. Hutchesons' is amoung only 23 schools in Scotland represented by the HMC. Other affiliations in which the school is represented include: The Independent Schools Council (ISC) and The Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS).

Houses

Pupils at the school are divided into the following four Houses:

  •   Montrose
  •   Stuart
  •   Lochiel
  •   Argyll

Uniform

At the school, Boys and Girls have different uniforms as a result of the amalgamation of the Boys and Girls Schools, it one of the only schools in Scotland to have sex-segregated uniforms. This has come under criticism however the school has shown no interest in changing its uniforms due to the tradition and history of both uniforms. The uniforms of the school are as follow;

Senior boys

A navy blue blazer, a dark grey jumper with navy, white and royal blue piping, a white shirt, and a navy tie with a reoccurring blue stripe bordered by silver on either side, dark (either black or charcoal) trousers and formal black shoes.

Senior girls

A royal blue blazer, a light grey jumper or cardigan with royal blue and white piping, a white shirt and a tie with light blue and white alternating stripes, the schools grey skirt with black tights and formal black shoes.

The girls may choose to wear the summer blouse in the summer terms, with which the tie is not required. Also at this time they are permitted replace the tights with white ankle socks.

Junior School

In the Junior School, the same uniform rules apply with some differences;

  • Boys have the option to wear grey shorts or trousers.
  • While wearing shorts, boys they must wear the school's knee-length socks.
  • Girls have the option to wear the schools summer dress in the summer term.
  • Both girls and boys are allowed to wear the school's navy overcoat on top of their blazers.
  • The school's hat may be worn.

Merit ties, additional ties and colours

Throughout the year, there are ceremonies during assemblies where senior pupils may be awarded with merit ties and/or colours for achievements in sports, music and Drama. The merit tie is usually awarded first, with colours being reserved for more significant achievements. Merit ties are navy blue with a reoccurring blue stripe, and on the stripe there is the altered version of the school's crest repeated in a diagonal pattern. Colours is a white piping that gets stitched on to the sleeves, pockets and edges of the blazer.

The sixth form tie is to be worn by pupils in s6, the final school year, and is burgundy red with the same altered version of the school's crest - as seen on the merit tie - printed in the same repeated diagonal pattern.

School tartan
Hutchesons' Grammar School Tartan

The school tartan derives from the Hutcheson tartan with the colours changed to fit the school colours. It was adapted by Colin Hutcheson, a Governor of the Scottish Tartans Authority, and launched in March 2005.[8]

The Tartan is worn on Founders Day every year as a Kilt by the Head boy and Depute Head boy, as a skirt by the Head girl and Depute head girl and as a tie by the rector. Founders day service is held annually at Glasgow Cathedral on the 19th of March. The tartan can also be found on the school scarf, which is worn with the winter uniform.

Academics

The School follows primarily the Scottish Education System, however pupils do have access to GCSE and A levels. These examinations are usually only taken if the subject is not offered by the Scottish system or the English qualification is regarded as a higher level.

The Schools results are well above the national average and are among the best in the country, In 2019, 89.2% of Highers and Advanced Highers were awarded grade A/B. The same year, 78.6% of National 5s were awarded grade A.[9]

In 2019, the school had the 2nd highest exam results in Scotland[10], in 2022 they had the 5th highest. [11]

Awards

In November 2011, Hutchesons' Grammar School was named the 'Scottish independent secondary school of the year'.[12]

In December 2022, Hutchesons' Senior School was in the top five Independent Secondary Schools in Scotland. [13]

In 2023, the school's pipe band made their debut at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band championships and won 1st place in their category.

Notable alumni

Former pupils of Hutchesons' are known as 'Old Hutchesonians', notable alumni include:

References
  1. Hutcheson, George (1891). "Hutcheson, George" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 28. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. "Charity Details". oscr.org.uk. 24 January 1992.
  3. Thomas Hutcheson. University of Glasgow
  4. "The Hutchesons' – Laurel Park Merger, August, 2001". Hutchesons' Grammar School. Archived from the original on 9 December 2010.
  5. Nicoll, Vivienne (7 August 2013). "Flats plan for blaze-hit former city girls' school". Evening Times. Glasgow. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  6. "Fire at former church in Glasgow's West End treated as 'deliberate' by police". Evening Times. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. "Grassroots football club signs deal to swap pitches with top school".
  8. "Tartan Details - Hutchesons' Grammar School". The Scottish Register of Tartans. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scotlands-top-schools-revealed-25601268
  10. https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scotlands-top-schools-revealed-25601268
  11. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23179537.best-schools-scotland-2023-revealed-sunday-times/
  12. http://www.isc.co.uk/20111114_schoolNews
  13. Leonard, Sue. "Best state and private secondary schools in Scotland 2023".
  14. "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65193. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  15. "Solicitor General". www.gov.scot.
  16. "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Leitch, Archibald (1865–1939)', first published Oct 2009, 1579 words, with portrait illustration".
  17. "James Maxton". The University of Glasgow Story. University of Glasgow. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  18. "The Rt Hon the Lord Irvine of Lairg PC QC". Christ's College. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  19. White, Donna (2001). "The rise and rise of the gallus gawky girl from Glasgow; CAROL SMILLIE - AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT". Scottish Daily Record & Sunday. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  20. "FPs Humza Yousaf and John Mason elected as MSPs". Hutchesons' Grammar School. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  21. Mount, Harry (25 February 2023). "Humza Yousaf and Anas Sarwar's debt to private schools". The Spectator. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  22. Mathiason, Nick (3 February 2008). "From blue chips to the green dream". The Observer. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  23. "Scottish Parliament". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  24. Glasgow Art Review. Glasgow Art Gallery and Museums Association. 1946. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  25. https://www.hutchesons.org/media/2022/06/Hutchie-Herald-June-2022-for-website-1.pdf
  26. "Queen's Park and the Great War 1914 to 1918" (PDF). p. 6. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
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