SCHOOLS
Education was a matter largely dealt with by religious authorities rather than anyone else prior to the Education (Scotland) Act of 1872 which made basic education compulsory and which established School Boards to implement this legislation.
18) Good Shepherd Primary, Dalbeth c.1975.
The Rev. MacEwing recounts in his volume on Tollcross that there had been a school in the village from the start of the Iron Works in 1786. The Church's Session House was converted for use as a school from 1826. Apparently, the local "sport" of cock-fighting was encouraged on school premises by the schoolmaster himself. This is more understandable when one realises that he was allowed to retain the less fortunate bird to supplement his income.
19) Tollcross Primary School.
20) Class photograph, Tollcross Primary, c.1920.
In response to the new Act, Tollcross Public School was built. This school fulfilled its role until c.1975 and is now used as an Adult Training Centre by Strathclyde Region. In later years, children would qualify from Tollcross Primary (from 1949) and attend either Eastbank Academy or Wellshot Junior Secondary in Wellshot Rd. The latter took over the function of Tollcross Primary when it closed and became the Wellshot Primary of today. This school was built under the auspices of Shettleston School Board and opened in 1904.
21) Wellshot Primary School, 285, Wellshot Rd.
22) Class photograph, Wellshot Primary, 1990.
Prior to 1872, the Catholic children of Tollcross were accommodated at St. Paul's school in Shettleston which had opened in 1866. After the Act the Catholic Church opened their first school in Tollcross in 1874 - this was St. Joseph's. A "new" chapel-school was opened in Easterhill St, Fullarton in 1906 but later moved premises to Carmyle. Part of Tollcross was also served by the Good Shepherd Primary school at Dalbeth, which closed in the 1970s.
The school which currently serves the Catholic community in Tollcross is St Paul's (Shettleston) Primary in Anworth St. The school was built on part of what was Egypt Farm c.1962. In fact, a recent school production of "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" could claim to be coming "live" from Egypt! The "Shettleston" part of St Paul's name was retained for the new Tollcross school.
In addition to the above, St Vincent's (Tollcross) in Fullarton Ave is an educational facility run by the Education Department for deaf and blind children. It was founded by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul who came to Tollcross in 1911 and had their convent in Fullarton. Both the original school and the convent have now gone.