James Gillespie's High School A GSG School
- James Gillespie's High School
Lauderdale Street
Edinburgh
EH9 1DD - Head: Donald J Macdonald
- T 01314 471900
- F 01314 667035
- E admin@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk
- W jamesgillespies.co.uk/
- A state school for boys and girls aged from 12 to 18.
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: Edinburgh, City of
- Pupils: 1,255; sixth formers: 185
- Religion: Non-denominational
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Vvery popular, with pupils from as far away as Penicuik and Musselburgh. Waiting list of over 150 to join. Brand new campus completed in 2016. Pupils come from 40+ different countries - 'the most diverse population in Scotland': EFL available (free) for all who need it. No classics, but French, German, Spanish, Mandarin and Urdu, a growing number also learn Gaelic (a feeder school where pupils do all subjects in Gaelic). Strong international links. Exchanges with Spain, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Shanghai. No uniform worn other than on formal occasions, which is going slightly against the current Edinburgh trend - 'If it ain't broke…
What the parents say...
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Other features
Music and dance scheme - government funding and grants available to help with fees at selected independent music and dance schools.
International Study Centre - school has a linked, international study centre for overseas students wishing to improve their English.
What The Good Schools Guide says
Headteacher
Since 2012, Donald J Macdonald BSc MBASQH Dip Ed (50s), previously head of Liberton High (school's exceptional progress under his watch resulted in an invitation to 10 Downing Street). Has taught science, physics and maths at a range of Scottish schools including Knox Academy and Portobello High. Married, with two daughters; lists golf, fishing and Scottish malt whisky amongst his many interests.
Academic matters
Class size 30 (20 for practical subjects), some grouping by ability for maths in the September of their first year; similarly for English in second year. Three separate sciences for all from the third year onwards. No classics, but French, German, Spanish, Mandarin and Urdu, a growing number also learn Gaelic (a feeder school where pupils do all subjects in Gaelic). All languages are taught up to Advanced Higher level. Newly introduced...
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Special Education Needs
All children and young people have entitlement to an educational experience of the highest quality. We are committed to the effective inclusion of all pupils in the life of the school. The Special Educational Needs of any individual pupil can be described as whatever is necessary for that young person to gain access to a broad and balanced curriculum. For most pupils most of the time the source of support will be the class room teacher. The Learning Support Department offers assistance in a number of ways: publishing annual advice giving information about the needs of particular pupils together with a strategies pack offering advice on how to deal with various difficulties; direct teaching in subject classes or in a tutorial setting; support by Learning Assistants in class; working co-operatively in classes and in consultation with subject teachers to help make the curriculum accessible for all pupils; organising the Befrienders scheme where sixth year pupils support first years in a variety of classes; working with parents, Guidance, subject and other professionals to assess needs and to set and monitor targets; and administering the SQA special exam arrangements for those with specific learning difficulties.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | Y |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
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