Schools by area › City of Edinburgh › James Gillespie's High School
James Gillespie's High School
Secondary · Ages 11–18 · Council school
57 Lauderdale Street, Edinburgh EH9 1DD · jamesgillespies.co.uk · 0131 447 1900
Overview
- Leavers, 2023/24
- 97%
- in a positive destination · virtual comparator 98%
- Pupils
- 1,829
- September 2025 census
- Local authority
- City of Edinburgh
- Departments
- Secondary
- Denomination
- Non-denominational
- Medium of education
- English medium, with a Gaelic medium stream
- Gaelic for learners
- Provided
- Taught as a subject
- Teachers
- 126.4
- Full-time equivalent
- Pupils per teacher
- 14.5
- Additional support needs
- 861 pupils (47%)
- English as an additional language
- 326 pupils (18%)
- Taught in Gaelic
- 261 pupils (14%)
- Gaelic medium or learner
- Free school meals, P6 and older
- 7.5% (137 pupils)
- Most deprived areas
- 3%
- Most deprived fifth (SIMD)
From the Scottish Government’s school contact details, school level summary statistics and School Roll and Locations, and its leaver results (data.gov.scot).
Results
97% of the pupils who left James Gillespie's High School in 2023/24 were in a positive destination (higher or further education, training, employment, voluntary work or an activity agreement), against 98% for its virtual comparator, a matched group of similar pupils from other schools.
86% left with literacy and numeracy at SCQF level 5 or better (virtual comparator 87%).
Scotland’s own measures, not GCSE or A level results, and never set beside England’s. The virtual comparator is not a school.
Middle 60% attainment for all (tariff points)
| 2024/25 · 242 leavers | Trend | School | Scotland | Comparator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment for all (tariff points) | ||||
| ▲481 | 132 | 495 | ||
| ▲1,528 | 874 | 1,415 | ||
| ▲2,332 | 1,965 | 2,168 | ||
| Literacy and numeracy | ||||
| ▲97% | 89% | 97% | ||
| hidden | 93% | hidden | ||
| ▲98% | 91% | 97% | ||
| ▲89% | 70% | 90% | ||
| ▲96% | 82% | 96% | ||
| ▲90% | 73% | 91% | ||
| Where leavers went | ||||
| hidden | 96% | hidden | ||
hidden: too few pupils to publish
Inspection
Education Scotland’s latest graded inspection on file (inspection, report published 30 March 2010) graded it 1 to 6 on each quality indicator: Improvements in performance 5 (very good); Learners’ experiences 5 (very good); Meeting learning needs 4 (good); The curriculum 5 (very good); Improvement through self-evaluation 4 (good).
- Report published
- 30 Mar 2010
- Inspection · Education Scotland
Quality indicators
| Improvements in performance | 5 · Very good |
|---|---|
| Learners’ experiences | 5 · Very good |
| Meeting learning needs | 4 · Good |
| The curriculum | 5 · Very good |
| Improvement through self-evaluation | 4 · Good |