MUSSELBURGH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
MUSSELBURGH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
THE GRAMMARIAN
Embedded Files
Friday 13th March 2026
Friday 13th March 2026
I shared details of the Parade with all pupils at House Assemblies this week, as well as plans for the Time Capsule- more details to follow on this!
The device roll out has been successful, with positive feedback from staff and pupils alike.
Work continues at pace to get course work, assignments, portfolios and dissertations complete, and I am grateful to parents for their support with ensuring all young people are in school every day to maximise learning and teaching time.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend, and another rugby victory for Scotland!
Jodie
KEY DATES
Friday 27 March: MGS Parade down the High Street as part of our 400th anniversary celebrations. Further information on this is available further down.
Week beginning 30 March: SQA assemblies and SQA timetables issued to S4-S6
Wednesday 1 April: Spring Concert starting at 7pm
TBC - due to a clash of dates: Parent Council online briefing 7-8pm. This will include a discussion with Jennifer Boyle, Quality Improvement Officer, about the proposal to site an ASN provision at MGS.
Wednesday 22 April - Ends: Friday 29 May: Study Leave for S4 - S6
STAFFING
Welcome back to Mrs Tudor who returns to the Maths faculty on Monday after maternity leave.
And welcome to Mrs Keith who joins our Office A Team.
I am pleased to let you know that Mrs Toles will be remaining with us as acting DHT and Head of Moray House until May 2027.
Congratulations to Ms Dudley, currently Teacher of Modern Studies, who takes up the post of acting CL Humanities when Mrs McKay goes on maternity leave in May.
I have successfully appointed a Teacher of PE to commence in August, and am readvertising the Teacher of Home Economics post.
QUALIFICATIONS SCOTLAND
The SQA is now known as Qualifications Scotland, and the exam timetable for 2026 can be viewed here: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/nq-2026-exam-timetable.pdf
PARENT COUNCIL MEETING DATES
These are the dates for this session’s Parent Council meetings:
TBC - due to a clash of dates: 7-8pm online https://meet.google.com/csy-mvmg-mtu?authuser=0&hs=122
Thursday 4th June 6.30-8.30pm in school
READY TO LEARN
Our Ready To Learn routine expects all pupils to be prepared for every class every day as indicated below.
EDINBURGH COLLEGE UPDATE
Pupils who have applied for a Full Time College or School College Partnership (SCP) course are reminded to regularly check their emails. Colleges are now beginning to schedule interview dates and important information will be sent directly to pupils via email or on their college account.
If you are required to bring any relevant information or materials, such as a mood board or portfolio, please ensure these are prepared in advance for your interview. It is the responsibility of pupils to monitor their inbox and respond promptly to any correspondence to avoid missing key deadlines or opportunities.
If you are unable to log on, or think you have missed an email, please see Ms Hoffman B16 who will check the College tracker for you.
HAIRDRESSING INTERVIEWS WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON MONDAY 16TH MARCH.
MARCH'S CELEBRATION IS A BIG ONE!
Our recent consultation on our refreshed school values reminded us all, students, families, staff and wider community alike, of how proud Musselburgh has been of our school for 400 years: the Grammar belongs to the town.
It is an honour and privilege to be Head Teacher at the Grammar, and very important for me to place our school and young people at the heart of our community in this landmark year, so what better way to showcase this than a whole school parade!
So please save the date- the MGS parade is on Friday 27 March starting at 9.15am.
Below is the route we will be following that morning and it would be wonderful for families to cheer us on from the pavements alongside P6 and 7 classes from our cluster primaries.
Events like these need community support and so I am very grateful to Loretto School for loaning us their pipe band to take part in the procession; to the Rotary Club and Old Musselburgh Club, Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council and the HTA for providing marshals; and to colleagues in Police Scotland, and ELC Road and Transport Services for their assistance.
We’re really looking forward to this event and hope you will be able to join us in the town.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK
As part of British Science Week our S1 pupils have been engaging with this year’s theme “Curiosity: what’s your question?” They have been formulating their own questions and carrying out research to find answers. This week they hope to find out:
· Will dinosaurs return?
· How will astronauts grow food on Mars?
· What is it like to live and work in Antarctica?
· What is it like to live in Outer Space?
· Why do we dream?
· What makes coke react with mentos?
Some S1 classes have even been investigating which fizzy drink reacts the most with mentos and others have been causing volcanoes to erupt.
Meanwhile, our Scientists at Science Club have been investigating the perfect recipe for slime. To be continued next week… See photos below.
There is still a chance to enter the poster competition. Hand your entry into your Science teacher by Friday 27th March 2026.
SUPPORT FOR LEARNING - REACHING NEW LIMITS
A determined group of pupils from MGS been braving the biting Highland winter on an unforgettable skills course with Mr Davie our Support for Learning Outdoor Learning Teacher, Ms Emslie and the East Lothian Outdoor Education Centre. From scaling icy crags to navigating snow‑covered terrain, they’ve pushed far beyond their comfort zones and discovered just how capable they really are. Despite the freezing winds and steep climbs, the smiles say it all — they’re loving every moment of this adventure and coming home with stories (and skills) they’ll never forget.
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS - we want to hear from you!
At Musselburgh Grammar School, we want to celebrate the successes of our young people. If you want to share the achievements of your child with the school, please email mlyle@elcschool.org.uk
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Kelsey’s story
Kelsey was nervous about going back to school after being unwell. She worried about what she'd missed. With the right support, she's now back and loving it. Her advice? Talk to someone at school you feel comfortable with.
For more tips, visit https://www.parentclub.scot/topics/school-education
Have a look at the Parent Club website, there is a lot of useful information on here to help. Whether it’s managing anxiety, easing stress, or working with the school, Parent Club has practical advice and support for you.
If you are concerned about your child’s attendance, please reach out to the schools Attendance Officer or your child's Pupil Support Leader for support.
YEAR GROUP ATTENDANCE
Improving attendance to improve attainment is one of our school improvement priorities this year and we expect pupils’ attendance to be at least 90%. We are tracking pupils’ attendance carefully throughout the session and more information about our attendance strategy will follow. I hope parents and carers find this weekly update on each year group's attendance useful.
FILM MAKING OPPORTUNITY
THE HONEST THREAD
Our Honest Thread, “free to a good home” initiative is a new way to share gently used school uniforms within our school community. Anyone who is in need of these items are welcome to request them free of charge.
If you would like to receive any uniform items, please complete the short Google Form below. This allows us to organise requests and prepare your order for collection from the School Office.
https://forms.gle/8NGk3eGnr5M9bMd56
The form will be added to on a regular basis and we hope that we will be able to include items other than schoolwear; this scheme is entirely donation based, so families are always invited to donate clean, good-quality items they no longer need. All donations are much appreciated and can be dropped off at the School Office FAO Ms Ritchie.
NHS NEWS - WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES
CAR PARK SAFETY
A safety reminder to all families who drop children off at school in the morning that they should be dropped off in the turning circle
outside the main gates and then use the footpath to the main doors, not walk through the car park.
This is due to a few near accidents recently with the volume of cars in the car park and pupils walking through it. If it is essential to come into the car park then the one way system must be used, again, to prevent accidents.
In addition, any S6 pupils having driving lessons should not be using the school car park for any part of the lesson due to the amount of cars in the area including narrow lanes and parking bays.
Thank you for your support.
NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
Reminder that all absences should be reported before 8am by texting 07860 049075. Please help us cut down on staff time and costs by notifying us before we have to contact you.
Please also remember to let us know in advance of any healthcare appointments for your young person, to save time at the point they need to leave school. If we haven’t been notified in advance, we will need to call you to verify, which may delay their departure from school.
We would like your help to ensure that all young people arriving in school after 08:30am sign in with the QR Code or office staff to avoid any unnecessary messages home.
PUPIL SUPPORT
If you would like to speak with a member of the Guidance Team (Pupil Support Leaders) please email Pupil Support Admin on: pupilsupport@musselburghgrammar.elcschool.org.uk
UNIFORM REMINDER
Thank you for your ongoing support of our dress code.
Wearing uniform in school continues to be an important feature in school, not least for a safety aspect, as it allows us to identify who all our pupils are.
As our S5 and S6 pupils have chosen to return to school and are aware of the expectations of uniform and attendance laid out at the beginning of the session, I do expect our seniors to uphold our uniform standards. This is not only for safety reasons but also as role models to all younger students.
To encourage this, uniform wearing will be considered alongside attendance as a deciding factor for seniors attending social events.
Our uniform expectations are:
Trousers/ skirt- black only
White shirt and tie
Black jumper
Blue jeans, ripped jeans, cropped/ belly tops, band t-shirts and joggers/ tracksuits etc are not part of our dress code.
Please get in touch with the school office or your child’s PSL (Pupil Support Leader) if we can support with any uniform items.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our dress code.
LOST PROPERTY
LOST PROPERTY
A few new items in lost property, if you have lost anything, please go and see Ms Harvey
A few new items in lost property, if you have lost anything, please go and see Ms Harvey
MEDICAL
MEDICAL
Polio/dip/tetanus/meningitis for all S3 Boys and Girls and catch ups will take place on Thursday 19th March 2026. Please hand all forms back to the school office asap.
HPV will take place on Thursday 11th June 2026. Please return all forms to school asap. All S1 Boys and Girls and some catch ups too.
Asthma - All pupils who have Asthma please make sure you have an inhaler with you at all times.
Thank you C Harvey
SCHOOL TOILETS
Our pupil toilets are checked on a regular basis to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety. These checks may be done by male or female staff members, and signage is in toilets to make pupils aware of this.
Our Healthy Respect drop in service runs every Wednesday lunchtime in the Training Room. This NHS run wellbeing service is in a discreet area of school, is free and confidential, and offers support and advice to young people on a range of matters including sexual health information for pupils over the age of 13.
MGS WEBSITE AND SCHOOL HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS
Our website has lots of useful information for parents, and includes our School Handbook and School Policies. Have a look! We welcome your feedback.
Page updated
Report abuse