Former chair of James Gillespie’s Trust passes away

23 February 2025: At the end of January, the Parent Council recieved the very sad news about the passing of Sheena Purdom, the former chair of the James Gillespie’s High School Trust. The obituary below was written by Trust members.

Sheena Purdom,1948-2025: Chair, James Gillespie’s Trust

Sheena spent 13 years as a pupil at James Gillespie’s, at a time when it was an all girls school. She made lifelong friends and remained an active member of the local community. Sheena trained as a teacher and followed a career in education until she retired. She taught biology in several Edinburgh high schools, retiring eventually from Leith Academy.

Sheena was always keen to support those who needed an extra helping hand and after retirement, while her daughter was still a pupil at Gillespie’s, she volunteered on the Parent Council, and later represented them on James Gillespie’s Trust. In recent years she has served as a Trustee, giving her time and expertise where it was most needed to support the young people and staff at JGHS. She was always keen to ensure all pupils were able to participate in school activities and that financial barriers were removed wherever possible.

Her time as a Trustee culminated with three years serving as chair of the Trust until she stepped down in November 2024. Sheena made a real difference to so many young people and her legacy will continue as the needs and interests of young people will continue to guide the decisions of the Trust in future.

Sheena has a special place in our hearts and she will be sorely missed.

Funeral service on 28 February 2025

Her funeral service will be held in the Mortonhall Crematorium at 2pm on Friday 28 February 2025. This will be followed by a celebration of Sheena’s life for friends and family at the Braid Hills Hotel. Family flowers only please. Donations will be collected for Air Ambulance Scotland and Guide Dogs.

About the James Gillespie’s Trust

James Gillespie’s Trust was established to harness the tremendous goodwill that is felt for James Gillespie’s High School and to support the work of the school through various educational schemes and community projects.

The Trust provides support and funding for educational and extra-mural activities within James Gillespie’s High School and its community and fosters strong links with past pupils through its alumni section.

James Gillespie’s Trust

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February 2025 update from Connect

6 February 2025: The latest update from Connect is now available.

This edition includes follw-up from Connect’s most recent parent/carer survey report, and the links to sign up for two new Open to All live online Information Sessions:

  • Online Learning Opportunities for the Senior Phase (S3+) – Thursday 27 February
  • Scottish Apprenticeships with Skills Development Scotland – Tuesday 4 March.
Read the newsletter

Feedback on CEC inclusion review

4 February 2025: The Parent Council has been asked to give feedback on the recent Inclusion Review by the City of Edinburgh Council.  There was some criticism before Christmas about the way in which the review had been handled, and subsequently communicated with parents. 

Head of Inclusion, Dr Lynne Binnie, has now shared some more information about the review:

Video explainer

CEC Vision for Inclusive Education – consultation analysis (December 2024)

Give your feedback

Dr Binnie has asked for feedback from parent councils and the wider parent bodies on the following questions:

  1. Do you agree with the overall vision for Inclusive Education in Edinburgh 
  2. Do you agree with the drivers of this re-organisation?
  3. What are the benefits of moving to the proposed structure? 
  4. What are your concerns of moving to this proposed structure?
  5. What ideas do you have to reduce any concerns?

If you could please let me have any answers to these questions by Monday 24 February, this will give time to collate a PC response before the deadline on 3 March.  

Email the parent council

Have your say – HMIE inspection

4 February 2025: As you will have seen already, JGHS will be visited by inspectors from Education Scotland in the week of Monday 24 February 2025.  

As part of the preparation for the inspection, all parents and carers have been sent the link to a survey about their experiences with the school.

Parent and carer survey

This is an important opportunity to have your voice heard about the issues that matter most to you, so please do take the time to complete the survey and leave your comments.

Please note that all responses must be submitted by Friday 7 February.

The inspectors will also be meeting with the parent council during their visit, and will be particularly interested to discuss:

  • how well the school works in partnership with parents and carers;
  • how well the school keeps parents and carers informed of progress of their children’s learning;
  • examples of how parents and carers work with the school to support children’s/young people’s learning

If you have any comments about these matters that you would like to share with the PC, please do contact us by email.

Please send us any feedback by Monday 17 February so that we can collate the responses.

Many thanks!

Email the Parent Council

Update to SQA exam timetable for 2025

3 February 2025: The SQA issued a revision to the exam timetable for this year on Monday 3 February.

The revision includes a number of alterations to the dates of presentations, including a new date for Higher Psychology, which will now take place on Friday 25 April, rather than Wednesday 7 May, as previously. Higher English remains on Wednesday 7 May.

Full details of the new schedule are now available.

SQA Timetable 2025 (opens as a pf)

Information provided to Daniel Johnson MSP, and forwarded to the Parent Council shows that in the new timetable:

  • the number of coincident exams has decreased by 47%
  • the number of occasions where learners sit two exams in one day has decreased by
    38%
  • there are now nine days where 100% of learners have one exam a day (up from
    eight)

Related info

Letters sent by the PC to the SQA and others requesting timetable revision, and responses received, are available on the Deputations page

PC deputations and campaigns

Report from Parent Council meeting 29 January 2025

30 January 2025: Many thanks to those who were able to join the meeting of the Parent Council on Wednesday 29 January.

We were joined by Headteacher Mr Neil McCallum, Science Curriculum Lead Mr Iain Coltart, and CEC Councillors Steve Burgess and Pauline Flannery.

The meeting discussed a number of issues including:

  • concerns about rising rolls and school capacity, and recent engagement with the City of Edinburgh Council
  • co-scheduling of SQA Higher exams in English and Psychology
  • presentation by Iain Coltart about the delivery of science teaching and S1-S6 pupil pathways

Added 5 February 2025: The minutes of the meeting are now available:

Minutes from JGHS parent council meeting 29 January 2025 (opens as a pdf)

Presentations available

The presentations by Mr Coltart and the PC Co-chair, the finance update from the Parent Council, and the Headteacher’s report are available now:

Parent Council report and comments, 29 January 2025

Science teaching at JGHS, January 2025

Parent Council finance update, January 2025

Headteachers report

Due to lack of time during the meeting, Mr Mr Callum shared a written report with responses to a number of issues raised by the PC, including:

  • SQA exam diet – Higher English and Psychology
  • Capacity engagement
  • English texts
  • S1 residential
  • Pupil bulletin
  • Double periods
  • Streaming
  • Reporting
  • SLWG on phones, homework and communications
  • School news

Headteacher’s report 29 January 2025

Links to recent deputations to the City of Edinburgh Council about school capacity, and the letter to Daniel Johnson MSP and others about the SQA timetable are also available:

Parent Council deputations

Update 3 February: the Parent Council is pleased to note the revision to the SQA timetable published today, which has addresed the issue of co-scheduling of Higher English and Psychology.

Update to SQA timetable for 2025

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Parent Council will be on Tuesday 25 March at 7 pm, and will be held online.

We will hear from DHT Mr Ian Porter about the health and well-being support provided for pupils and JGHS.

Parent Council meeting on 29 January 2025

24 January 2025: The Parent Council meeting will be held this week on Wednesday 29 January at 7 pm in the school library – all parents and carers are most warmly invited to join with us.

Agenda

  • Update on Parent Council activities, including:
    • Capacity and rising rolls at JGHS
    • SQA scheduling of Higher English and Psychology
    • CEC Inclusion review
  • Finance report – PC Treasurer
  • Delivery of the science curriculum at JGHS – Science Curriculum leads 
  • School updates – Neil McCallum (HT)
  • Q&A

Due to availability of school staff, the planned presentation about inclusion, health and well-being support at the school has been moved to the meeting in March. 

As always, if you have any points/questions/concerns that you would like to raise with the Parent Council, please contact us by email:

Email the Parent Council

Parent Council Finance Report

Summary of PC budget 29 January 2025

Letters and deputations

Recent communications sent by the PC to Council officers about rising rolls, SQA timetabling and other issues can be accessed below:

Parent Council documents and papers

Previous Parent Council meetings in AY2024/25

Parent Council meeting 26 November 2024

Parent Council AGM 9 October 2024

Parent Council meeting 10 September 2024

Scottish Apprenticeships info-event

20 January 2025: Skills Development Scotland are hosting an information session for parents and carers on Tuesday 4 March 2025, 7-8 pm.

Book your ticket

Join this free live online session to find out more about the types of apprenticeships available in school and after school, where to get more information and how to find the latest vacancies. Hear from an apprentice, employer and learning provider about the value and benefits of apprenticeships and the support available to take one.

Scottish Apprenticeships are made for business – there are over 100 types, all developed with employers and giving young people skills that employers want.

The session takes place as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which is on from 3 to 7 March.

Scottish Apprenticeships Week 2025

Skills Development Scotland

Happy New Year 2025!

9 January 2025: Happy New Year, and welcome to 2025!

The first Parent Council meeting of 2025 wil be held on Wednesday 29 January at 7 pm in the JGHS library.

in addition to the usual updates from the Parent Council, and the Headteacher’s report, the main item on the agenda will be a presentation and discussion with Mrs Nikki Graham about the support for pupil health and well-being in the school. This will also touch on the new Inclusion policies from the City of Edinburgh Council.

All parents and carers are most warmly invited to join us.

If you have any questions that you would like to raise in advnace of the meeting, please do get in touch:

Email the Parent Council