Orkney primary school welcomes class of only boys for first time

A Scottish primary school has welcomed a year of only boys for the first time.

Stromness Primary School P1 class will be made up of 18 boys with teachers Joanna Tulloch and Susan Begley describing the unusual set up as creating a “buzz” at the start of the school year.

The job-share teachers said: “It’s certainly not something you expect and is absolutely a first for both of us – a class of only boys especially in a school of our size.

“In terms of teaching, it won’t make a difference to us as we will be following the interests of the bairns so we won’t be changing anything but, as with any new class it will be exciting to see what their interests are.

“We had a few laughs on our moving up day where we went to say “boys and girls” and they would say “just boys” when we forgot. It’s certainly creating a lovely buzz for us and the school community at the start of the new school year.”

It was the school’s nursery manager, Caroline Easton, who realised it would be an all-boy P1 class.

“We look after 2-5 years in the nursery, so we have had some girls, but none are moving up to the P1 class this term, meaning it’s a class of 18 boys!

“It’s very unusual for this to happen but I have no doubt it will make little difference to them in terms of teaching and learning, other than a bit of excitement being the boy-only class.”

Chair of the council’s education, leisure and housing committee, Gwenda Shearer, said: “It’s always an exciting time for our children and parents/guardians when their child starts in Primary One – and this just adds another dimension to that.

“I wish the class all the very best as they embark on this new chapter within the primary stages and start on a new adventure with lots of opportunities.”