Author: hilarysnaith

JGHS bookdrive fundraiser

7 December 2025: The Parent Council’s Small Sums Fund distributes funds raised by the school back to the School Community.

Small Sums Fund

English reading circles for S1 and S2

This year we have been raising funds to buy books that will support pupils in S1 and S2 to (re)discover a love for reading and literature, in reading circles in English classes.

The English curriculum team have develped a fantastic list of books across all genres that small groups of pupils can get together to read and discuss. Titles include books from mystery and detective fiction, contemporary fiction, adventure, comedy, graphic novels, thrillers, and science and historical fiction – truly something for everyone.

The funds raised will buy packs of 5 copies of the same book, so that all pupils in a reading circle will have a copy to take home and read.

To make the funds go as far as possible, we are buying pre-owned, as well as new books. We have already bought sets of Nancy Springer’s “Enola Holmes – the Missing Marquess”, Katherine Rundell’s “The Explorer”, and Malorie Blackman’s “Robot Girl”.

Please support if you can

We are working with the James Gillespie’s Trust, a registered charity, so that we can claim gift-aid on any donations made, and make the funds go even further.

JGHS bookdrive fundraiser – Justgiving

If you are able to donate, please visit the Trust’s justgiving page – all the funds that come through this appeal will go directly to buying books that will go into school.

Many thanks!!

Report from Consultative Committee with Parents meeting

11 December 2025: The City of Edinburgh Council’s Consultative Committee with Parents met earlier this week. It was attended by Kirstin Leighton and Liz Hilton on behalf of the Parent Council.

The short meeting focused primarily on an update about the Empowered Learning Programme.

Concerns were acknowledged about the cost of iPad repairs, which can be expensive, long repair turnaround times, and restrictions preventing pupils from using compatible third-party chargers, limiting affordability and choice. However, no specific actions or solutions were outlined.

New restrictions were outlined that will give parents greater control over their child’s iPad usage. However no detailed timelines or specifications were provided during the meeting.

Discussion was limited due to ongoing decision-making processes, and several questions could not be answered in detail. A full report on the Programme will be given at the Education Committee in January.

About the Consultative Committee with Parents (CCwP)

Rising Rolls working group meeting

11 December 2025: The first meeting of the JGHS Rising Rolls working group, led by Andrew Picken, met earlier this week.

The group agreed that the aim is to campaign for creation of more useable space in the school to improve the quality of the education experience for pupils in the coming years.

The group will be undertaking further research to better understand the impact of the rising rolls, following which they will formulate an informed plan of action.

If you are interested in getting involved with this working group, please contact Andrew Picken:

Email Andrew Picken

Report from Edinburgh Gaelic Collaborative Forum

The City of Edinburgh Council’s Gaelic Collaborative Forum met on Wednesday 10 December 2025.

The Forum brings together councillors, Council officers, national cultural bodies, community organisations, and education representatives to coordinate Gaelic activity across the city.

JGHS Parent Council was represented by Padraic Kinsella and Séamus Spencer.

Meeting papers, a presentation by Council officers and a report from the meeting are now available.

Edinburgh Gaelic Collaborative Forum agenda and papers (opens as pdf)

Gaelic Medium Education overview, Bethan Owen (opens as pdf)

Edinburgh Gaelic Collaborative Forum meeting report (Padraic Kinsella and Séamus Spencer, opens as pdf)

If you are interested in representing the Parent Council at this or other forums relating to GME please get in touch at jghscouncilcomms@gmail.com.

Report from Parent Council meeting 25 November 2025

25 November 2025: Thanks so much to everyone who was able to join the PC meeting this evening. Many apologies for the technical issues – we are very grateful for your patience.

Particular thanks to all our contributiors for their comments and presentations, and to our comms officer Kate Pinault for handling all the behind-the-scenes activity so smoothly.

Agenda

Headteachers report
Performing Arts Curriculum update
Rising Rolls interest group
2024/25 SQA results at JGHS
Comment Cllr on City of Edinburgh Council policy on mobile phones in schools
Q&A

Rising rolls interest group

As was discussed in the meeting, Andrew Picken is chairing a parent group interested in exploring ideas that could address the problem of rising rolls and space contraints in the JGHS. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact him by email:

Email Andrew

Meeting information

Parent Council meeting recording (opens on YouTube)

Performing Arts curriculum (Lisa Shearer; opens as pdf)

JGHS SQA results 2024-25 (Nigel Cotter; opens as pdf)

Parent Council update (opens as pdf)

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Parent Council will be on Wednesday 28 January 2026 at 7 pm in the school library.

Parent Council meeting on 25 November 2025

4 November 2025: The next meeting of the JGHS Parent Council will be held on Tuesday 25 November. This will be an online meeting via MS Teams, and the joining link wil be shared by the School via email. All parents and carers are most warmly welcome to attend.

The draft agenda for the meeting is:

Welcome and report from the Parent Council – Co-chairs
SQA results at JGHS for 2025 – Mr Cotter, Deputy Headteacher
Update on CEC consultation on mobile phones in schools – Cllr Steve Burgess
School report – Mr Neil McCallum, Headteacher

If there are questions or issues you would like to raise in advance of the meeting, please contact the Parent Council via email. It will also be possible to post questions in the Q&A during the evening.

Email the Parent Council

Zoom talks for Creative Careers Month

31 October 2025: An opportunity has been highlighted for S4-6 pupils by the Developing the Young Workforce School Coordinator, Claire Howe.

There is a month of zoom talks for Creative Careers Month on a wide range of talks that pupils can opt into to learn about aspects of the creative industries they may be interested in. The full line up is here:

ERIC x DCCM 2025 — ERIC | Creative Career App

Starting on Monday 3 November, and continuing throughout the month, there is a diverse line-up of speakers sharing 20 minute talks of practical advice, real career journeys, and actionable steps to help students build their futures.

How to attend

Further details about how to register to attend these talks has been shared on email by the school. Please contact the school staff listed to receive details to join at the time of your chosen talk(s).