23 May 2023: The Education Children and Families Committee (ECF) committee met on 27 April 2023.
ECF committee papers and webcast
The City of Edinburgh Council Consultative Committee with Parents (CCwP) met on 10 May 2023. The webcast is available to listen again.
19 May 2023 update: A note that the next meeting of the JGHS Parent Council will be on Wednesday 31 May in the school library.
The agenda will include:
If there are any questions or issues you would like to raise at the meeting, please contact the Parent Council by email:
We look forward to seeing you!
11 May 2023: Intercultural Youth Scotland (IYS) is Scotland’s leading charity for Black and People of Colour youth.
They have recently developed some new resources that can be shared with anyone who might benefit – click the links below view flyers with more information:
Find out more about the work of IYS on their website:
Antiracism actvities at JGHS, including a presentation by Grace Dempsey from IYS were discussed at the Parent Council meeting on 1 February 2023 – you can find more details at the link:
10 May 2023: The latest update from the National Parent Forum of Scotland is now available, with information on a range of topics including:
19 April 2023: The April edition of the Connect newsletter is now out with information and useful links! Topics featured include:
27 March 2023: Connect, the body supporting parent councils and other parent groups in schools, has produced some useful guidance for financial regulation.
Money Matters Health Check for Parent Groups
Money Matters Guidelines for Parent Groups
The JGHS parent council will be reviewing these documents, and discussing how the guidance will inform our own handling of parent council financial processes, at the our next meeting on 31 May.
23 March 2023: Connect has just published the spring edition of its termly newsletter Backchat.
This edition includes:
23 March 2023: The SQA has created “Your Exams 2023” – a booklet, which is delivered to schools, colleges and training providers and includes helpful information and rules that your child needs to know before their exams start.
You can find out more on the SQA blog site:
SQA exams 2023 – information for parents and carers
For more information including the exam timetable, prohibited items, exam preparation, SQA apps and tips for on the day visit the SQA Your Exams 2023 website:
22 March 2023: The Scottish Government has launched a new consultation on prescribing the minimum annual number of learning hours in schools.
Prescribing the minimum annual number of learning hours: consultation
This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Government’s plans to set a legal minimum number of hours of school education school pupils should receive each year.
Traditionally, Scottish primary schools provide around 25 learning hours per week, and Scottish secondary schools around 27.5 hours per week. However, while local authorities are required to have their schools open for 190 days each year, the number of learning hours is not prescribed.
The Scottish Government is now planning to use the existing provisions in the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 to set the minimum number of learning hours in a school year, and propose to use this power to make regulations later this year.
This consultation is an opportunity for local authorities, parents, children and young people and other stakeholders to provide views and evidence about the potential impact of the implementation of this policy.
Find out more and submit your views
The responses will be used to inform future regulations and non-statutory guidance.
The consultation closes on 13 June 2023.
21 March 2023: Many thanks to those who were able to join us for the James Gillespie’s High School Parent Council meeting on Tuesday 21 March.
The recording of the meeting is now available:
Watch the Parent Council Meeting 21 March 2023 on YouTube
Note of JGHS parent council meeting on 21 March 2023
JGHS Parent Council 
