8 February 2023: The February 2023 edition of the Connect newsletter is now available, and covers a number of important issues including:
2 February 2023: The SQA has published a new blog about upcoming exam diet.
If your child is sitting National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher SQA exams in 2023, the article has information about the support options available.
This includes details about the services in the event of exceptional circumstances during their exams or appeals if you believe the grade they receive on results day is incorrect.
1 February 2023: Following discussion at the JGHS Parent Council meeting in October 2022, it was agreed that the Parent Council would seek to engage with the City of Edinburgh Council about future accommodation requirements at the School.
The Parent Council has now sent a letter to Edinburgh City Council outlining the our concerns and asking for meaningful dialogue with the Council to address the issues raised.
A copy of the letter is available at the link below:
James Gillespie’s High School Capacity Planning
If you have any comments to make about the issues raised, please send them to the Parent Council.
Updated 31 January 2023: You are invited to an online meeting from 6.30-7.30 pm on Wednesday 1 February 2023 to:
Please contact the City of Edinburgh Council Parental Engagement email account to book a space to attend the meeting, or send your views marked with for the attention of Marie Lyon.
Update 25 January 2023: The next meeting of the James Gillespies High School Parent Council will be at 7 pm on Wednesday 1 February 2023 in the library at the school. We very much hope that you can join us.
The main presentation at the meeting will be on work on anti-racist approaches at the school.
There will also be the regular updates from Headteacher Neil McCallum, and the Parent Council.
If there are other issues that you like to raise at the meeting, please let us know by email:
Information about our meetings earlier this academic session can be found below:
23 January 2023: The City of Edinburgh Council is looking for views on proposals to expand the city’s network of 20mph streets, as well as lowering speed limits on roads that have limits of 40mph or more, which are mainly rural.
20mph speed limit proposals map
Whatever your views about our speed limit proposals, we want to hear from you.
Take part and complete the online survey which is available on the Council’s Consultation and Engagement Hub.
Click here to complete the survey
Please forward this email to any contacts that you feel would be interested in making their views heard on the proposals. The consultation is open and you can feedback until 8 February 2023.
22 January 2023: The City of Edinburgh Council’s Consultative Committee with Parents (CCwP) met on Thursday 19 January. The JGHS Paren Council was represented by our Chair, Sarah Scott.
The committee covered a number of topics, including
Links to the full recording of the webcast and the presentations made at the recent meeting are available below:
For more information about the CCwP please visit the Council’s website:
14 January 2023: The latest edition of the Connect newsletter, supporting partnerships in education, is now available.
This month’s newsletter has information about:
15 December 2022: Many thanks to everyone who came along to the JGHS Christmas concerts this week (Tuesday 13 December) – it was fantastic to see everyone back in the school to celebrate the talents of our young people and to meet one another again.
The Parent Council took in over £400 on the refreshments stall at the fayre that ran between the concerts, and also raised over £100 at the coursing night on 6 December – we are very grateful for all these contributions, which will go towards the Small Funds Fund supporting activities in the school.
There is also still time to make a contribution to the Parent Council’s Festive Fundraiser, which is currently running on Parent Pay. Again, all the funds raised will go to the Small Funds Fund, and will be most appreciated.
10 December 2022: A few updates from Connect, the NE/SE Parental Engagement Locality Group and the new Guide to Children’s Rights are given below.
The December 2022 issue of the Connect newsletter is now available
The Edinburgh Council NE/SE Parental Engagement Locality Group met on 23 November 2022.
The meeting minute and presentation given by Stephen Kelly, Senior Education Manager on the National Discussion consultation process, are now available:
NE/SE Localities meeting minute 23 November 2022
Education Reform, Stephen Kelly
The new Guide to Children’s Rights for parents and carers has just been launched.
Children’s rights | Parent Club
The booklet was created by the United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Parents Network, made up of parenting organisations and Scottish Government policy officials. They have been meeting for over a year to look at how best to inform parents, carers and family members about the rights of their children. The new guide conveys broad universal messaging about children’s rights and has adopted a warm and reassuring tone.
The resource provides information about children’s rights and introduces the UNCRC, which sets out the rights that all children and young people should expect and what they need to grow up happy, healthy and safe. It outlines the central role played by parents and families and also recognises that they need protection and assistance to support the rights and wellbeing of their children.
If you would like any more information please contact Shelly Coyne.
JGHS Parent Council 