and triple.

Shawlands Primary School's new intake of P1s includes an unusual three sets of twins and one set of triplets.

But, luckily for teachers, the nine new starts have been divided up between the school's three primary one classes.

Head teacher Elaine Hutton yesterday helped welcome triplets David, Matthew and Thomas Anderson and twins Andrew and Benjamin Ferguson, Iqra and Mobeen Sarwar and Tom and Katie Donnelly.

Looking smart in their school uniforms, the children took their first day of school in their strides despite being separated from their brothers and sisters.

Lucy Butters, 41, dropped her triplets off for their first day at school.

She and partner Ian Anderson, 40, had prepared Matthew, David and Thomas for starting at Shawlands Primary – but Matthew decided he wanted to stand out from the crowd.

Lucy said: "Matthew wasn't keen on the shirt and tie like his brothers. He's a law unto himself.

"They've all been very excited though Matthew was a little bit nervous. They boys are very close and good friends but they are all very different."

Only eight sets of triplets are born each year in Scotland – but Lucy said the three five-year-olds aren't too much of a handful.

She added: "They are just three lively boys now. You need to up your energy levels and just swing with it."

Andrew and Ben's mum and dad, Duncan Ferguson, 33, and Jennifer Ng, said the boys, who are five, were very excited at starting school.

Jennifer, 30, said: "They've been ready for ages to start school and have both been preparing by putting their ties on. They think their uniforms look just like Harry Potter so they've been keen to get dressed in them."

Duncan added: "The boys are very close but they're happy being in different classes as we've told them they can see each other at breaks and lunchtime."

Waseem and Rahat Sarwar were also waving their two youngsters off to class yesterday morning.

Four-year-olds Mobeen and Iqra joined the other 75 P1s starting at Shawlands – but Iqra was a little less sure of her new surroundings than her brother.

Waseem, 35, said: "My wee girl is very nervous. She relies on her brother very much so she's shy about being in a different class from him.

"They are very close but Mobeen does everything for his sister. Mobeen is very loving and loves helping us out while Iqra loves telling him what to do – she's the boss."

And it wasn't just in Glasgow that schools went back with the majority of schools in the west of Scotland returning.

Among the emotional mums waving goodbye to their youngsters at the school gate yesterday was Radio Clyde DJ Suzie McGuire, as reported in later editions of last night's Evening Times.

Mum-of-three Suzie took her five-year-old daughter Daisy to school for the first time.

Daisy was dressed in her new Eaglesham Primary School uniform with her outfit complete with a Minnie Mouse rucksack.

With big sister Millie going into primary three, she was there to hold Daisy's hand.

Suzie took time out from co-hosting the Clyde 1 Breakfast Show with George Bowie for breakfast at home with her girls and baby son Oliver.

Proud mum Suzie said: "Daisy has been excited and hyper for days. She is looking forward to it and couldn't wait to get her rucksack on. She was even telling me how she wanted her hair done for the day.

"When Millie went to school for the first time I was at the school gates with a big pile of hankies, but although I was emotional with Daisy going to school, it wasn't as bad as I know she has her big sis there to keep her company."

Superschool opens tomorrow

Lucky pupils at the city's newest superschool are enjoying an extra two days holiday as the finishing touches are put to the £16million Hillhead Primary ahead of its opening tomorrow.

The Evening Times had the first look around the school as teachers unpacked the last of the equipment into their new classrooms.

It brings together Dowanhill, Hillhead, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank primary schools with Dowanhill and Willows Nursery Schools.

When Hillhead opens its doors tomorrow, it will have places for 666 pupils as well as 60 full-time nursery places, becoming the city's largest primary.

Hillhead, in Otago Street, has 21 classrooms, two general purpose rooms, a large assembly and games hall and a media library for pupils.

Assembly rooms and sports halls are in Gibson Street but are linked by a covered walkway to the classrooms, which are designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Council leader Gordon Matheson met Hillhead Primary's head teacher Francis Donnachie for a tour of the school.

Mr Donnachie said: "We're all excited to be starting the new school year in a new building."