James Gillespie‘s School was the first free school in Scotland when it opened in 1803. It was established by the bequest of James Gillespie and was originally only for boys.
In 1870, it became a day school for boys and girls, whose parents paid moderate fees, though 60 free scholarship places were retained to honour Gillespie’s will.
In 1926, Thomas Burnett, the headteacher at the time, introduced the uniform, school badge and the school motto: “Fidelis et Fortis”. Founders day was celebrated for the first time in the same year. In 1929 the school became a selective girls-only Corporation Grammar, remaining that way until 1973 when it became a non-selective co-ed area comprehensive, as it has been to the present day.
In 1953 a detailed ‘History of James Gillespie’s’ was written by Elaine Cynthia Joan Cochrane, S3c, as a school essay writing project. This essay won the school’s Burnett Prize (see School Magazine 1954, page 14). Elaine has given permission for her essay to be published on this website, chapter by chapter:
History of James Gillespie’s by Elaine C.J. Cochrane, S3c
Preface (PDF) Chapter 1 (PDF) Chapter 2 (1803-1870) (PDF)
Chapter 3 (1870-1914) (PDF) Chapter 4 (1914-1936) (PDF) Chapter 5 (1936-1953)
Why the Unicorn?
In her essay of 1953, ‘History of James Gillespie’s’, Elaine Cochrane identified the source of the school logo, the Unicorn. It is the crest of the Gillespie family.
The Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms calls it ‘a non-armorial device’ and not a ‘coat of arms’. In Fairbairn’s ‘Book of Crests of the families of Great Britain and Ireland’ there is the following information:
‘Gillespie, Scotland, a unicorn’s head argent (silver) armed (with a horn) or (gold). Motto – ‘Fidelis et in Bello Fortis’. There is also a plate of a unicorn’s head which is almost identical with ‘our’ school badge. The words ‘in Bello’, in the motto, were left out since they were not suitable for a school motto.
In Chapter 4 Elaine covers the period 1914 to 1936 and identifies the start of some Gillespie traditions such as the house system and the school song introduced in 1926.. There is also a reference to James Gillespie’s being the Edinburgh school that is probably the highest above sea-level. A check of a topography map of the city confirms this. Edinburgh is built on seven hills and the area around Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Morningside, is the residential area with the highest elevation. We also
know that ‘our’ school is one of the highest achieving in the city and, according to the City Council website, it has the highest notional capacity and the highest school role. A truly High school!
A further insight into life at James Gillespie’s in the 20th Century can be found in the contents of the School Magazines, several of which have now been scanned and listed on this website.
The school has been on its present site as a primary school from 1945 and as a high school from 1966. In 1966 the high school moved from its site on Bruntsfield Links (1914 to 1966) to the new site on Lauderdale Street when it was opened by H.M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. After 1973 with the move away from an all-girls school to a co-ed comprehensive and a growing school role, the premises struggled to cope and a new school was built on the site, officially opened in 2016. Placques were commissioned for each of the school buildings.
Since James Gillespie’s School opened in 1803, up to 2024, there have been 16 Headteachers.
YouTube Drone footage of the building site in 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUl_EVFtCqY
YouTube Drone footage of the new JG High School and new JG primary school in 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzxwNYhPmwE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQR1hYPxFo
James Gillespie’s High School and Map
Faithful & Brave: A Celebration of James Gillespie’s High School
