MUSSELBURGH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
MUSSELBURGH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
THE GRAMMARIAN
Embedded Files
Friday 20th March 2026
Friday 20th March 2026
The countdown to next Friday’s parade is on! The first practice run this morning in the sunshine went very smoothly and we have more planned for next week.
In between practising parading and the parade itself, staff and pupils remain busy finishing off course work- attendance in all classes is expected until study leave, and thank you for your support with this.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
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
Wednesday 1 April: Parent Council online briefing Time TBC. 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
MGS PARADE - FRIDAY 27 MARCH
Preparations for our celebratory parade continue apace with whole school rehearsals taking place to ensure all students and staff know their place in the formation.
I am very pleased to let you know that Preston Lodge’s Pipe Band can also join us, and will be bringing up the rear. There are also rumours of a Samba band so please do join us at some point on our route to cheer us all on! The formation of the parade is detailed below.
Thank you for all parents’ support in ensuring that full school uniform is worn by all pupils next Friday to proudly represent the Grammar. Pupils wearing inappropriate dress may not be allowed to participate.
Please note that S6 students should be wearing blazers if they have one: leavers’ hoodies are not to be worn for the parade.
Parade formation
Values Ambassadors + Head Teacher
Loretto Pipe Band
Guests
Caird House
Grange House
Samba Band
Moray House
Preston Lodge Pipe Band
Register teachers will be walking alongside their registration classes and MGS Heads of Departments are safety marshals, alongside a number of experienced marshals from our community.
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
VISION AND VALUES
I am delighted to let you know that after extensive consultation with our school community over the past 6 months, we have now finalised our school’s refreshed vision and values.
Our values are honesty, respect and perseverance, and our vision is Together everyone achieves more.
The We are beside our values and our TEAM vision represents our ethos of everyone belonging to our school and promoting ambition in all we do as a TEAM.
Musselburgh Grammar School:
We are honest
We are respectful
We persevere
Together everyone achieves more
The final design and branding is still to be done but it was important that we had our identity in place for our parade next Friday, and our vision and values will be on the banners that our Values Ambassadors will be carrying at the front of the procession.
Thanks to Mrs Toles, acting DHT and Grammar alumni for the interim banner design.
PARENT COUNCIL MEETING DATES
These are the dates for this session’s Parent Council meetings:
Wednesday 1st April: Online briefing Time TBC. https://meet.google.com/csy-mvmg-mtu?authuser=0&hs=122
Thursday 4th June: 6.30-8.30pm in school
SCOTTISH YOUNG MUSICIAN, EAST LOTHIAN FINAL
Three talented pupils from Musselburgh Grammar School proudly represented MGS at the East Lothian regional final of the Scottish Young Musician competition, held at St. Mary’s Kirk, Haddington on Wednesday 18th March.
Daniel Barrett (Saxophone) delivered a captivating performance of Aria by E. Bozza, Tess Mary Devlin (Trombone) impressed adjudicators with a powerful rendition of Morceau Symphonique by A. Guilmant and Sam Devlin (Piano) performed the much-loved Für Elise by Beethoven with great sensitivity. A special congratulations goes to Daniel, who achieved an outstanding runner-up position in a highly competitive field of 21 performers, with three representatives from each secondary school across East Lothian.
The overall winner was Delta Sym (Piano) from Preston Lodge High School, who will go on to represent the region at the National Final at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
The evening also featured a wonderful performance of Moon River by the East Lothian Schools Wind Ensemble, led by our woodwind and piano instructor Ms Aspley. The ensemble included Freyja Melville, Emma Leathard, Tom Barrett, Dan Barrett, Hannah Scott, Isla Dowdeswell and Zofia Kulczycka from MGS, showcasing the strength and depth of musical talent across the school.
A huge thank you goes to all Instrumental Music Service instructors for their dedication, support, and for helping make the event such a success.
Well done to all involved!
MUSIC COMPETITION SUCCESS
On Wednesday 11th March, 37 of our woodwind, brass and percussion students travelled into Edinburgh to perform with MGS Wind Band at the prestigious Edinburgh Music Competition Festival at the Parish Church of St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh.
This was a great opportunity to showcase all the hard work the band has put in throughout the year, and our two pieces, ‘Cyclone’ by Michael Oare and ‘Arabian Dances’ by Roland Barrett, were highly praised. We received an ‘Outstanding Award’ from the adjudicator, Paul Harris, who is internationally renowned as a clarinettist and music educator. Our magnificent percussion section was recognised for their energy and rhythmic drive, and Freyja Melville was credited for her beautiful clarinet solo at the beginning of ‘Arabian Dances’.
Massive congratulations to everyone involved – this is an incredible achievement and we are extremely proud of all the young people who took part!
Juliet Aspley, Rachel Wood and Neil Wilson (ELC Instrumental Music Instructors).
Back row : Juliet Aspley (Instructor), Noah McBirnie, Freddie Wright, Sam Devlin, Rachel Wood (Instructor), Amy Forshaw, Evie Murphy, Rosa Morris, Tess Devlin
Front Row: Martha Scott, Evie Martin, Evie Christie, Caitlyn Scott, Julia Scott.
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
S1 POSTER COMPETITION
Last week S1 took part in a workshop with Jacobs Engineering which focused on water and biodiversity and the importance of sustainability.
They launched a poster competition open to all S1 (details below). Posters will be displayed at ELC CCAP Public Consultation Event and there is a prize for the winning design.
Please hand in entries to Mrs Orsi (room D09) eorsi@edubuzz.org by Fri 27th March.
YEAR GROUP ATTENDANCE
As a reminder, school absenteeism remains a significant challenge across Scotland. In 2023/24, 31.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of the school year. While this has since improved, with a 2.9 percentage point decrease to 28.5%, absenteeism continues to impact learning, wellbeing, and attainment.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Last week we heard from Kelsey, a pupil who was anxious about returning to school after a period of absence. Now we heard from a parent who felt helpless when her child couldn’t attend school, Heidi asked the school for help and encourages other parents to speak up and seek support.
Parent - Heidi’s story
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.
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.
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.
ACTIVE SCHOOLS
Good Luck Tom!
S2 student, Tom Ibbs has been selected to represent Scotland at the International Cross-Country Match in Bangor, Wales, on Saturday. Tom has already had a successful cross country season so far, most recently winning the SSAA U15 Cross Country Race. From everyone at Musselburgh Grammar School, we wish Tom the best of luck!
Youth Games 2026
We are looking for S1 and S2 students to represent the school at the Youth Games. The event will take place on the 19th May 2026 at Meadowmill Sport Centre.
Teams for girls and boys football along with rugby will be selected by Active Schools and PE.
If your child would like to take part in any of the following sports, please contact Maria Lyle (Active Schools Coordinator) via email- mlyle@elcschool.org.uk :
Girls Hockey
Boys Basketball
Girls Netball
Golf (boys and girls)
For students that are selected and put their name forward, they will receive more information in the next few weeks.
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.
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
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.
MEDICAL
MEDICAL
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
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
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.
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.
Page updated
Report abuse