Couple of points that I can't help but make. Mainly cause I fancy stirring things up a bit.
First let me point out that this is not a dig at any school or FTO. Scotlands wx is as good or bad as anywhere else you'll might go. What did annoy me was the attitude of certain instructors with regard to what weather they might get off their arses and do some work. A PPL student should have been instructor accompanied into marginal weather on more than one occasion to give them confidence to tackle any bad weather they may encounter post PPL. By the time you have your shiny new licence, you must have an understanding of your own personal limits, be that cloudbase, crosswinds, vis whatever. This is doubly important if your banging round the Scotland where options are more limited compared to south of the border.
5 months for a full time PPL seems a tad on the steep side. I have seen someone through a full time PPL in 3 weeks, mid January, also in the wilds of Scotland. I could also give you a name of a fellow instructor who had one of his students pass in 2 weeks (although he had his exams already bagged and it was july) 0 to PPL. Although he may post on here soon as he is not know for being a quiet little wall flower. Scotland does not equal Bad Wx.
BTW, not suprised people fail the FI test in that part of the world. The guy who conducts the test is known for a more draconian approach. Mind you, when he passes you, you've definately earned the ticks in the boxes and to get the rating.