Parent Council

English reading circles

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:

JG Trust Bookdrive justgiving page

Happy New Year 2026

5 January 2026: Welcome to the New Year, hopefully rested and refreshed after the festive break.

Next meeting

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:

Email the Parent Council

Book Drive

Many thanks to those who have been able to donate to the Parent Council’s Bookdrive fundraiser.

About the JGHS bookdrive

If you would also like to make a contribution, the JustGiving page is still available:

JGHS bookdrive Justgiving page

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

Report from Annual General Meeting 2025

8 October 2025: The Annual General Meeting of the Parent Council was held on Wednesday 8 October 2025 in the library at James Gillespie’s High School.

Election of office bearers

The meeting elected the office bearers for the Parent Council in 2025-26.

  • Co-Chairs: Tiziana Basciani and Liz Hilton
  • Vice-chair: Samantha Ross
  • Secretary: Padraic Kinsella
  • Treasurer: Kirstin Leighton
  • Comms: Kate Pinault
  • Refreshments: Julita Burgess

Hilary Snaith stepped down as co-Chair of the Parent Council.

The full list of members of the Parent Council for 2025-26 (* indicates new member for this session):

  • Duncan Bell (PC representative for James Gillespie’s Trust)
  • Laura Bird
  • Shane Buckeridge
  • Adam C
  • Orla Hobson
  • Gidona Henderson*
  • Barbie Lyon
  • Thomas Perc*
  • Ulrike Peter
  • Bec Phipps
  • Lucy Picken*
  • David Pollock
  • Hilary Snaith (website)
  • Séamus Spencer
  • Penny Tarsia
  • Garrick Wagner*
  • Hazel Wilkinson*

People – JGHS Parent Council

Reports

Annual report 2024-25 from Parent Council (opens as pdf)

Gaelic Learning Board report 2024-25 (opens as pdf)

PC presentation from PC meeting 8 October 2025 (opens as pdf)

Minutes of the PC meeting 8 October 2025 (draft, opens as pdf)

Next meeting

The next meetings of the Parent Council will be on Tuesday 25 November 2025 (online) and Wednesday 28 January 2026 (in the school).

Parent Council Annual General Meeting 8 October 2025

21 September 2025: The Annual General Meeting of the Parent Council is on Wednesday 8 October 2025 at 7 pm in the library at James Gillespie’s High School.

All parents and carers at the school are warmly invited to join the meeting.

Agenda

The meeting will (re)elect office bearers for the Parent Council, invite new general members to join, review PC activities over the past year, and hear an update on school activities from the Headteacher.

  • Welcome
  • PC report for 2024/25 – Co-chair
  • Treasurers report for 2024/25 – Treasurer
  • JGHS Trust comments – PC representative
  • Election of office bearers and PC members
  • Headteacher’s report – Neil McCallum, Headteacher
  • Q&A, discussion

If there are any topics you would like to raise at the meeting, please contact the PC by email.

Reports

Annual report 2024-25 from Parent Council (draft; opens as pdf)

Minutes of 2024 Annual General Meeting (draft; opens as pdf)

Gaelic Learning Board report 2024-25 (opens as pdf)

Email the Parent Council

Joining the Parent Council

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Parent Council, please contact us by email.

You will also be able to indicate your interest during the meeting.

Summary of Parent Council meeting 2 September 2025

3 September 2025: Many thanks to those who joined the Parent Council meeting this week.

Meeting agenda

  • Welcome
  • Active Schools – Lorraine Burn
  • Brief introduction to the Parent Council – Hilary Snaith
  • Report and updates from the Parent Council
  • Headteacher’s update – Neil McCallum
  • Q&A

Meeting documents

A summary of the meeting, taken from the meeting transcript is available, along with the slides presented by the Parent Council. and by Lorraine Burn about Active Schools. A recording of the full meeting can also be viewed in YouTube.

Meeting summary (opens as a pdf)

Active Schools presentation (Lorraine Burn, opens as pdf)

Parent Council presentation (Hilary Snaith, opens as a pdf)

Recording of meeting (opens on YouTube)

Mobile phones policy

There was considerable discussion at the meeting about the mobile phones policy at JGHS.

The Headteacher confirmed that the school is moving towards a “no mobile phone” campus, asking students not the bring phones to school, or if they do, to keep phones off and in bags. However, a comprehensive policy was delayed due to council consultation and advice.

Presentations have been given to students since the start of this session, and the policy is being enforced gradually, with positive compliance observed.

City of Edinburgh Council policy

Policy around mobile phones in schools was also discussed at the City of Edinburgh Council’s Education and Families Committee on 2 September. The webcast of this item can be viewed on the Council website:

Education, Children and Families Committee 2 September 2025 – item on mobile phones in schools

The Council is now undertaking a 12-week consultation about a policy on mobile phone use in schools across the city, with a view to coming to a decision in January 2026.

Full details of the Education, Children and Families Committee meeting 2 September

Email the Parent Council

Parent Council meeting on 2 September 2025

21 August 2025: The first meeting of the JGHS Parent Council will be held online on Tuesday 2 September at 7 pm. All parents and carers are most warmly invited to join the meeting.

Draft agenda

  • Welcome to parents and carers
  • Introduction to the parent council (PC chair)
  • Brief report and finance update (PC chair)
  • Active Schools (Lorraine Burn)
  • School report (Neil McCallum)
  • Q&A

If you have any questions or concerns you would like to raise ahead of the meeting, please contact us by email:.

Email JGHS Parent Council

The joining link will be circulated by the school to all parents and carers before the meeting.

Welcome back for 2025/26

14 August 2025: The summer flew by, the sun is still shining, and we are back to school already! Hopefully everyone was able to take some time to rest and relax over the holidays.

A warm welcome to the new school year from the Parent Council, especially to the new pupils, parents and carers joining James Gillespie’s High School this session.

Parent Council meeting on 2 September 2025

The first meeting of the JGHS Parent Council will be held online on Tuesday 2 September at 7 pm. All parents and carers are most warmly invited to join the meeting.

Draft agenda:

  • Welcome to parents and carers
  • Introduction to the parent council (PC chair)
  • Brief report and finance update (PC chair)
  • Active Schools (Lorraine Burn)
  • School report (Neil McCallum)
  • Q&A

If you have any questions or concerns you would like to raise ahead of the meeting, please contact us by email:.

Email JGHS Parent Council

Parent Council meetings 2025/26

Parent Council meetings usually run from 7 pm. The schedule of meetings for the rest of this year is:

  • Tuesday 2 September 2025, 7-8.30 pm (online)
  • Wednesday 8 October 2025 – AGM, 7-9 pm (in person at JGHS)
  • Tuesday 25 November 2025, 7-8.30 pm (online)
  • Wednesday 28 January 2026, 7-9 pm (in person at JGHS)
  • Tuesday 24 March 2026, 7-8.30 pm (online)
  • Wednesday 3 June 2026, 7-9 pm (in person at JGHS)

Happy summer holidays 2025!

26 June 2025: Amazingly the end of term has already arrived!!

News from Connect

The most recent edition of Connect’s Backchat newsletter is now available, including details of their latest survey on school attendance:

Read backchat

Connect attendance survey

Next PC meeting

The next meeting of the JGHS Parent Council will be held online on Tuesday 2 September – all details wil be shared at the start of the new session.

The Parent Council wishes everyone a lovely summer holiday – hopefully the sun will shine, and we’ll all get some time to rest and relax.