Double take for Glasgow schools as 49 sets of twins start the new term

A whopping 49 sets of twins, and two sets of triplets, are starting primary one this year.

Among them are four-year-olds Marlie and Molly Hutchison, who are joining St Bartholomew’s Primary in Castlemilk along with two other sets of twins – Finn and Luna Healy and Anusha and Muhammad Zakir.

Ayesha and Aleesha Naveed, aged five (Image: Colin Mearns)

“They are really excited,” said the girls’ mum Shannon. “It’s a big day for them. I have two older daughters too – Orla, who is at St Margaret Mary’s Secondary and Ella, who is also at St Bartholomew’s – alongside six of the girls’ cousins.”

Shannon laughed: “Our family are keeping the school in business, I think. It’s a lovely school, I’m really happy the girls are coming here and that their cousins can look out for them and spend some time with them.”

St Bartholomew’s headteacher Angela Fitzpatrick said: “Day one of the new term is the highlight of the school year for us.

“To see everyone arriving with smiling faces, happy to come in to school and get started, is fantastic.

“Having three sets of twins starting in primary one is very unusual for us, I don’t think it has every happened before, so it is very exciting.”

She added: “It can be an anxious time for children and for parents, but they do not need to worry – everyone is in good hands at St Bartholomew’s, as they start this exciting new chapter in their lives.”

A total of 38 schools in Glasgow have at least one set of twins or triplets starting P1 this year, and 10 schools have more than one.

Three sets of twins are joining Cuthbertson Primary in Govanhill - Ayesha and Aleesha Naveed, who are five, Mustafa and Zainab Muhammad Noreen, and Jasraj and Navraj Singh Gill, who are four – while identical twins Aven and Reed Cox, aged four, are starting Battlefield Primary.

Marlie, left, and Molly, right, with big sister Ella (Image: Colin Mearns)

Glasgow City Council’s education convener, Councillor Christina Cannon, said: “I’d like to wish all of our children and young people across the city a massive good luck on their first day of the new school year – particularly to our new P1s who are embarking on the first step of their school learning journey.

“We have around 5000 P1s starting with us today – including 49 sets of twins and two sets of triplets.”

She added: “I know that this can be an anxious time for many parents and carers but please rest assured that your precious little ones are in very safe hands.

“We can’t wait to welcome you all back and here’s to another successful year of learning and teaching in Glasgow.”