James Gillespie's High School

[JohnStephens91]

Did any other posters attend this school? If so it is in the last two weeks of it's current form as it is ready to be knocked down systematically starting with the Lauder building this summer (the building with the art department) and will be all replaced with a single building campus I believe. Does anyone have any stories about the school or any of the teachers who were there?

[s.a.m]

Are they not going to use the historic bit after the rebuild?

[JohnStephens91]

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Are they not going to use the historic bit after the rebuild?

Yes, sorry forgot to mention that Bruntsfield House will be kept as it is a listed building, it's currently home to the music department and some of the offices of Head Teachers and Deputy Heads. Not much changed since I left 4 years ago really

[s.a.m]

[lyonhibs]

Didn't go there myself, but am good family friends (indeed will hopefully be having a vino with him on Mallorca on Sunday) with Mr Finalyson, who was the headmaster about 10-15 years ago. One of the best men I know - proper standout bloke.

[Godsahibby]

I went to Gillespies, left after 5th year about 1997. Some great times and not so great times there but will be sad to see the old building go.

[heretoday]

My sister-in-law went there. It was quite posh in the 60s. Was it a private school then?

[Liberal Hibby]

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My sister-in-law went there. It was quite posh in the 60s. Was it a private school then?

Yes. It was an Edinburgh merchant company school - The James Gillespies High School for Girls - alma mater of one Muriel Spark who based The Marcia Blaine School for Girls on it.

When I was there in the late 70s some of the jotters still had the old name on them and the sixth year was still entirely female (the Cooncil took it over when the private school went bust and started mixing from the bottom).

Surprised the 'new' buildings have stayed up so long frankly...

[CropleyWasGod]

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Yes. It was an Edinburgh merchant company school - The James Gillespies High School for Girls - alma mater of one Muriel Spark who based The Marcia Blaine School for Girls on it.

When I was there in the late 70s some of the jotters still had the old name on them and the sixth year was still entirely female (the Cooncil took it over when the private school went bust and started mixing from the bottom).

Surprised the 'new' buildings have stayed up so long frankly...

Wasn't a Merchant Company school in the 60's. It was a Corporation/Council school for girls, and was the equivalent of Royal High for boys. Co-education started in 1974.

In the old selective system, JG, RHS and Trinity were the top of the tree in Edinburgh.

[JohnStephens91]

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Yes. It was an Edinburgh merchant company school - The James Gillespies High School for Girls - alma mater of one Muriel Spark who based The Marcia Blaine School for Girls on it.

When I was there in the late 70s some of the jotters still had the old name on them and the sixth year was still entirely female (the Cooncil took it over when the private school went bust and started mixing from the bottom).

Surprised the 'new' buildings have stayed up so long frankly...

I am as well, there were some days where the heating would fail and the classes would be freezing, one day the school had to be closed for it too. I was in Sixth Year at the time I think. On top of that there was one time when I was sitting in the Warrender Building and workers were checking for damage to the outside and they tapped on the window frame on the outside and the wood was rotten and fell off. In the same building there was a flood too.