13 February 2026: Connect – the network supporting partnerships in education across Scotland – has just shared their latest newsletter.
This February edition has a wide range of news and updates, including details of their 2024/25 Annual Report, Climate Change Plan Consultation, and information about the Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers.
Updated 12 February 2026: A number of updates from the Parent Council were shared in the Headteacher’s newsletter this week.
The ECF meeting for parent representatives from mainstream secondary schools in Edinburgh was held on 4 February.
At the JGHS Parent Council’s request, an item related to rising rolls in Edinburgh schools was added to the agenda.
Meeting report (opens as pdf)
The rising rolls subgroup has produced a document outlining the case for more space to be made available at JGHS, and has obtained information via an FOI request on the current use of teaching spaces at the school. Both documents can be access below:
Making the case for more space (opens as a pdf)
Use of teaching spaces at JGHS (opens as a pdf)
A huge thanks to all parents and pupils who so generously contributed to the Book Drive. The final total raised was £1105!!
The donations mean that we have now been able to purchase all 160 of the books requested by the English department, (at a total cost of £642) and the campaign is now closed.
The PC worked with the JGHS Trust to raise funds for pre-owned book sets for S1–S2 English Reading Circles. Purchasing books through the Trust has allowed us to claim Gift Aid on donations, increasing their value.
Since the donations exceeded the total amount needed for this project, the Parent Council has asked the English department to extend the initial list and to consider including additional titles for children with additional support needs
One teacher will pilot the Reading Circles programme later this year, and the full prorgramme will be rolled out in 2026/27.
The Parent Council encourages families to explore the new online resource that provides support for children as they learn about friendships, relationships and growing up.
The official launch on the new resource was on 4 February 2026.
The next meeting of the Parent Council will be held online on Tuesday 24 March 2026, 7–8:30 pm via MSTeams.
If there are any issues that you would like to raise, please contact the Parent Council via email.
29 January 2026: Many thanks to all who were able to attend the Parent Council meeting on 28 January 2026.
We had presentations illustrating the pupil support structures and systems at JGHS from Mr Ian Porter (DHT), Ms Elisa Kerr (PSL), Mr Rob Cockcroft (CL and Support for Learning), and Ms Anna Parkes (CL and Wellbeing Hub).
Pupil support structures at JGHS (opens as pdf)
We also had a presentation on Communications & Digital from Mr Neil McCallum (HT), who gave us an overview of recent developments and improvements in communications including the school newsletter, website and app. He also provided a general update on school activities.
Headteacher’s report on digital communciation and school update (opens as pdf)
in addition the meeting was given an update on work by the Rising Rolls Subgroup in the Chair’s update, and heard from the James Gillespie’s Trust.
A copy of the PC Chair’s update and the meeting mintues will be added here once available.
The next Parent Council meeting will be held online on Tuesday 24 March, from 7.00 to 8.30 pm, via Microsoft Teams.
The next meeting of the JGHS Parent Council will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday 28 January in the JGHS library. All parents and carers are most welcome to attend.
If you have any points you would like to raise before the meeting, please contact the PC by email:
20 January 2026: Education Scotland have published the results of the inspection carried out at James Gillespie’s High School in October 2025.
The report and the summarised findings are available at the links below:
JGHS inspection report, City of Edinburgh Council, 20 January 2026
JGHS inspection report, City of Edinburgh Council, 20 January 2026 (Gaelic version)
JGHS summarised inspection findings, City of Edinburgh Council, 20 January 2026
JGHS additional inspection evidence, City of Edinburgh Council, 20 January 2026
In summary the inspectors found:
January 2026: The Scottish Government published guidance on mobile phones in schools in August 2024.
Since this guidance, many schools, including JGHS, have introduced restrictions to mobile phone use during the school day. The detail of these restrictions can vary from school to school.
Mobile phone use in primary schools is not permitted following a decision by the Education, Children and Families Committee in 2025.
The Education, Children and Families Committee is considering banning or restricting phone use in all schools. The council is also considering lockable pouches to support restrictions on mobile phone use in secondary schools, and lockable cabinets in primary schools.
However the Council is aware that views on these proposals difffer and are now now asking for input from parents. They are also asking pupils and school staff and for their views. All the feedback will help the council reach a decision.
You can add your views to the consultation at the link below:
Please complete the form by Monday 2 March 2026.
19 January 2026: The January newsletter from Connect – the network supporting partnerships in education across Scotland – is now available:
9 January 2026: Many thanks to all parents and pupils who have contributed to the Book Drive fundraiser.
The Parent Council is working with the James Gillespie Trust to raise funds for pre-owned book sets for S1–S2 English reading circles. Purchasing books through the Trust allows us to claim Gift Aid on donations, increasing their value.
So far, 70 books in sets of 5 have already been purchased. Our aim is to build a collection of 160 books in total, covering 32 titles, to support reading activities in class.
Titles include Wonder by RJ Palacio; The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, by Victoria Williamson; Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian; The Call of the Wild by Jack London; One of us is Lying by Karen McManus; The Crossover by Kwame Alexander; Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys; and the Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.
Any further contributions will help us continue expanding this resource and encourage a love of reading among pupils.
Donations can be made online, and there is also the option to “sponsor” a book. If you wish, donated books can include a short personal inscription.
Please donate through the Trust’s justgiving page:
9 January 2026: In 2024 the Chat undertook a project to understand how parents support children (from 3- to 18-years-old) around a whole number of topics to do with growing up, puberty, relationships, keeping safe and sexual health.
As part of that engagement, one of the things the project team found was that parents wanted a one-stop-shop for information to help them support conversations with their child.
As they spoke about all the issues, parents also said that the NHS is a trusted source of information and support. This is why that partnership of NHS Boards (NHS Borders, NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Tayside and NHS Western Isles) has created a new online parent resource.
On Wednesday 4 February 2026 the Chat parent resource is launched:
On visiting the Chat parents can look for what they are interested in – depending on the questions their child is asking, or for more in-depth support on topics that they want to talk about. The project team hope the resource supports many fascinating, surprising and occasionally funny or challenging conversations.
The team is hosting a lunchtime webinar 12.30 to 1.30 on Wednesday 4 February 4 to talk about the Chat and celebrate the launch – everyone is welcome.
5 January 2026: Welcome to the New Year, hopefully rested and refreshed after the festive break.
The next meeting of the Parent Council will be held on Wednesday 28 January 2026 at 7 pm in the JGHS Library – as always, all parents and carers are most welcome to attend.
The agenda will be available shortly.
If you have any questions or comments that you would like to share, please contact us by email:
Many thanks to those who have been able to donate to the Parent Council’s Bookdrive fundraiser.
If you would also like to make a contribution, the JustGiving page is still available:
JGHS Parent Council 