What was working life like on Glasgow docks in late 1950s early 1960s?

I am trying to find some reliable and hopefully personal accounts and information about the working life in Glasgow Dock Yards in the late 1950's to early 1960's - just before it was overtaken with modern technology. I am developing a script for a short film and want to make sure it would fit in with that era. Can anyone give me any information or accounts of work there? It would be especially helpful if I could also find out what schooling was like for boys at that time. The central character will be 7 years old and not in school himself, so I'd be particularly interested to find out if this was common or not, and if it was - why were so many children not being schooled? Was it cost?