James Gillespie’s High School
Lauderdale Street Edinburgh Lothian EH9 1DD
“In 1803, as a result of the legacy of James Gillespie, a wealthy Edinburgh manufacturer of snuff and tobacco, a school for 65 students and one master was opened in Bruntsfield Place. In 1870 the school moved into a larger building where the Royal Blind Asylum now stands at Gillespie Crescent. As the school developed, girls were admitted as well as boys and the number of students exceeded 1,000. During this period it was a preparatory school for the Merchant Company’s Secondary Schools. In 1908 the Edinburgh School Board took over the responsibility for the school and in 1914 it moved into the building at Bruntsfield Links, until recently used by Boroughmuir High School as an Annexe. By then James Gillespie’s School had a flourishing Secondary Department. In 1935 Edinburgh Corporation acquired Bruntsfield House and its grounds from the Warrender family. The building of the present school commenced in 1964 and was completed in 1966. The school became a secondary school for 800 girls. In 1973 the school became an area co-educational Comprehensive School, reorganisation beginning at First Year intake level. By 1978 the school was fully established as a co-educational six-year Comprehensive School.”
GET THERE
DEBATING MATTERS HISTORY
Qualifying Round: Edinburgh 2009/10
DEBATE: Boxing
Qualifying Round: Edinburgh 2009/10
DEBATE: BNP
Regional Final: Scotland 2009/10
DEBATE: Artistic Expression
Regional Final: Scotland 2009/10