Scotland Street School

We had loads of fun a few weeks ago when we visited the Scotland Street School. I hadn't been there since a primary school trip many years ago and couldn't remember much about it. My only scratchy memories were of us having to wear old victorian clothes, draw on slates and have a very stern woman tell us off.

The school was the last major Glasgow commission by one of the City's most celebrated sons Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Opened in 1906 it was in continuous use until 1979 when school numbers had dropped to below 100 and the doors were shut. It's a shame it closed as the spaces inside the building are fantastic, light bright and airy. We were very spolied the day we visited, not only was the school really quiet but it was also gloriously sunny. Both helped to show off what a beautiful place it is inside and we got slightly very carried away taking photographs.

After several years of closure the school was restored as Scotland's Museum of Education. It's really well done and from the moment you step inside you feel like you've gone back in time. It has that old school smell which is hugely powerful at transporting you back to being a child and as you walk around and see all the tiny chairs, small sinks and rows of low coathooks you feel a bit of a giant.

There is a whole range of different things to see, from an old b+w video about the changes in education in the 60's to examples of old school books, punishments and playground games. There are lots of things to interact with. The main assembly area is full of toys, there are interactive computers explaining different aspeccts of the history and the design and there are dunces caps to wear in the classrooms (everyone loves trying them on for some reason).

The lower floor houses the great cafe and shop (possibly worth a visit on its own), the video room and the temporary exhibition space. There area also regular workshops based around ideas of the current temporary exhibition.

Upstairs is where the real fun lies. There are three rooms set up as classrooms of the past - there is a victorian room, a WW2 classroom and a 1960's classroom. Each is filled with items from that era and are very nostalgic even for people who didn't live through those times. There is also a rather lovely cookery demonstration room where some of the workshops take place. (check out our hundreds of photos below)

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The school is in a funny location - development of the bridge and the motorway saw huge changes in the area in the 60's/ 70' and where once it was right in the heart of a vibrant area it now feels quite cut off. This shouldn't put people off visiting though, its not a far walk from Pollokshields and is right beside the Shield's Road underground making it very easy for all our friends in the North to pop over for a visit.

Originally the Sculpture Studios were meant to be moving into the empty property next door but they ended up going west. Currently the plans are to build office parks surrounding the school but the old warehouses to the left are so interesting I really hope they are saved and reused somehow.

Its such an odd location, surrounded by derelict sites that it actually helps in a way to making you feel you are going back in time. Its a really great place for an afternoon out but it will be interesting to see how the school develops if its surrounding sites are built upon.

Scotland Street School Museum
225 Scotland Street GLASGOW G5 8QB
0141 287 0500

[10am-5pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 11am-5pm Friday, Sunday]

How many people can answer these 1955 test questions - answers in the comments.

 Other Links

Video by a family about their visit to the school

BBC profile on Mackintosh