Prospectus: The School

School History

Although its origins are unknown, The Royal High School can justly claim to be one of the oldest schools in Britain.

Its history can certainly be traced to 1128 when the Abbey of Holyrood was founded. Within the abbey there was a school which served mainly as a seminary. After the Reformation the new lay school was established with its endowments from Mary Queen of Scots. It was at this time that the management of the Royal High School was transferred to the Town Council.

Down through the ages The Royal High School has been a mirror to the life of the capital. The old school reflected the turbulence of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, the classical spirit of the Eighteenth and the expansionary optimism of the Nineteenth. Today the school can be seen to express the technological and social changes that are taking place not only in Edinburgh but throughout Europe and the Western World.

Over the centuries The Royal High School has produced outstanding pupils, who have excelled in every area of human endeavour and enterprise, pupils who have gone out to all parts of the world to make their reputation and special contribution to mankind.

We are proud of such achievements and of our history. However The Royal High School of today has much to celebrate and it is with confidence in our current achievements that we now approach the challenge of the twenty-first century.

School Aims

To provide the highest quality of learning and teaching for all
To create an environment where everyone in the school community is encouraged to participate and to achieve to his/her full potential
To provide a safe and supportive environment where everyone is valued and treated with respect
To promote social, emotional, mental and physical health and wellbeing
To enable our pupils to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens who are able to make a positive contribution to their community

These aims are summarised for our pupils as follows:

Take part
Realise your potential
Have respect for yourself and others
Show pride in your school

School and Community

The school is very conscious of its position in the local community. Senior pupils help in the local primary schools and there is a significant involvement with those in society who are in need of help and care.

Assistance with flag days, donations to charities, participation in sponsored events are regular features of the community serving effort.

Activities in this area of school life are coordinated by our Charities Committee, which comprises staff and pupils.

Catchment Area

These primary schools are designated as in our catchment area:

Blackhall, Clermiston, Cramond, Davidson's Mains

Although our first obligation is to the four associated primaries above, a number of pupils join us from other primary schools.

Our four associated primary schools have close contact with us throughout the academic year.

This contact includes:

Open Afternoon in October for P7 parents
Three-day visits by all primary pupils to The Royal High School in the June preceding August transfer
P7 Parents' Evening held in The Royal High School in June
A range of other activities throughout the year. This programme changes on an annual basis

Primary - Secondary Liaison

Good relationships have existed with our associated primaries - Blackhall, Clermiston, Cramond and Davidson's Mains - for many years. The Rector and Depute Rector meet regularly with the Primary Headteachers to discuss matters of common concern and plan for joint initiatives across the cluster. This includes transfer arrangements as well as cross-sector curriculum and staff development projects.

In the summer term, immediately prior to the move from Primary 7 to secondary school, the Support For Pupils staff responsible for the new S1 intake, visit the primary schools. The pupils then spend 3 days in the High School following their S1 timetable and taking part in the whole range of usual daily activities.

This means that when they join S1 in August, they will be familiar with the physical layout of the school and will have met Support For Pupils staff, Form teachers, most subject teachers and some senior pupils. A group of our S6 pupils are specially trained to act as “Befrienders” to our new S1 to help them settle into school.

Enrolment Procedures

All parents of pupils of Primary 7 age should in the first instance contact the Head Teacher of their child's primary school who will be able to clarify the procedure to be followed in order to transfer their child to the secondary school of their choice.

Parents of children of secondary age living in or moving into the catchment area and wishing to enrol their child into the school should in the first instance write to or telephone Mrs Coffey (Acting Depute Rector) who will be willing to answer any questions or arrange an early appointment.

Mrs Coffey may enrol such pupils if the school's accommodation and staffing will allow.

The Royal High School Council

In line with legislation The Royal High School Board was replaced this year with The Royal High School Council, which acts as the committee or management body on behalf of the Parent Forum.

The aims and objectives of the School Council are to:

To actively promote and support parental involvement in The Royal High School and in the education of pupils
To support The Royal High School in its work with pupils
To support the Rector in the development of school policies and priorities
To seek and represent the views of parents (the Parent Forum)
To promote contact and build positive relationship between the school, staff, parents, pupils, the wider community, cluster schools, former pupils
To be involved in strategic educational government and consultation by engaging with The Royal High School Senior Management, cluster schools, former pupils, The City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government and other bodies as appropriate
To support the social and fund-raising roles of The Royal High School PTA and other school groups
To be involved in the appointment of the Rector and Depute Rectors, and other senior appointments as required

Current parent/carer members of the School Council are listed on the School Council page.

Agenda/Minutes available from the School Office, School Staffroom, School Library, RHS School Council Noticeboard, RHS PTA Chairperson and Blackhall Library.

The Parent Staff Association

For many years now The Royal High School has been well served by an active Parent Staff Association (PSA).

Please do visit the RHS website as this is our main menas of communication with parents/ carers and we update our are in the Parent Zone very regularly.

The PSA provides a great opportunity for parents and staff to work together on a number of social and fund-raising projects. The PSA committee includes parents and staff who organise events such as the fashion show and support school shows and activities by providing helping hands.

We operate an annual bidding system, whereby staff can request funds for projects or purchases which are ancillary to statutory provision.

Any new parents who feel they would like to become involved in this enjoyable aspect of school life should contact the PSA Secretary (please see the School web site for details).

PSA Office Holders & Members

The Royal High School

The School