Welcome to our school web site. Portobello High School is the largest school in Edinburgh and we aim to provide all of our 1450 pupils with an enjoyable and rewarding educational experience.

This web site should provide you with a good insight into life at Portobello High. It contains details of our broad and stimulating curriculum, the modern resources we have available to enhance learning and the wide range of opportunities which our pupils enjoy.

We strive to establish and maintain strong links with parents and the local community. I hope the development and use of this web site by staff, pupils, parents and the wider community will further strengthen those links.

Ms. Peigi Macarthur, Head Teacher

For more information on individual subject areas within Portobello High School, please select from the list.

Art & Design
Biology
Bus Education
CDT
Chemistry
Computing
Drama
English
Geography
H. E.
History
Modern Languages
Maths
Media Studies
Modern Studies
Music
P. E.
Physics
RME

Principal Teacher of Learning and Teaching: Ms A O'Hagan

‘Moving education forward’ - the Learning and Teaching Scotland Online Service provides access to a wide range of information and resources for education in Scotland. Visit the website below to keep up to date with all areas of the curriculum and national educational developments.

www.LTScotland.org.uk

Study Support Programme 2007

Portobello High School has an extensive Study Support Timetable run by staff at lunchtimes and afterschool.


Click here to see whats available

Staff at Portobello High School offer a huge range of lunchtime and afterschool extra-curricular activities to engage our young people.


Click here to see whats available


For more information about music and sporting activities, follow the links below.

Sporting Activities Timetable		Music Activities Timetable
Sporting Activites (Lunchtime)

Ethos Coordinator: Mrs C. Forrester

It is fundamental to the values of this school that we will create and ensure for pupils a warm, welcoming and secure learning environment. We aim to do this in a number of ways, including:

- Our Principal Teacher of Ethos who is responsible for promoting a positive ethos in the school, particularly with reference to HGIOS 5.1 - 5.4
- Our full school uniform, which aims to give pupils a sense of identity and pride in their school. It raises our profile in the community and helps to keep our pupils safe
- Our Ethos and Achievement working group, which includes several pupils and some twenty staff, and tackles at a wide range of issues from anti-bullying and good behaviour strategies to promoting a positive staff morale
- Our large numbers of other working groups which address concerns in all areas of school life
- Our pupil councils, which aim to give our young people a voice in the school, and a sense of responsibility
- Our positive and extensive Rewards and Recognition policy
- Our support for the many school trips organised throughout the year, as well as the hugely popular Suspended Timetable in June where all pupils have the chance to take part in a range of activities for three days
- Our anti-bullying strategy
- Our positive links with the community, which include our full colour newsletter and the school website
- Promoting the participation in the many extra-curricular activities offered
- Promoting our Inter-House competitions which run throughout the year

We believe that if we create a positive school ethos, our pupils will have the best possible chance of achieving the highest standards and reaching their potential.

From the 13th August 2004, all pupils at PHS have been required to wear full school uniform, as modelled here by our Head Boy and Girl.

We introduced this to improve the ethos of the school, increase the pupils' safety and improve our image in the community.

The policy has been extremely successful, thanks to the hard work of our staff and to the co-operation of our parents and pupils. Even now, over six months on, over 99% of pupils are in full uniform - every day.We would like to thank the parents for their support.The uniform consists of:

• Trousers / skirt: Black or navy blue, plain and formal. NO PINSTRIPES, garish zips etc.
• Shirt/blouse: white only, long or short-sleeved with no 'designer' features
• Footwear: black shoes or black trainers
• Tie: PHS tie should be worn daily, and tied no lower than the second botton
• Tops: black or navy blue v-neck jumper; v-neck/round neck/hooded sweatshirt or cardigan bearing a PHS logo, or no logo or very small brand logo
• Fleece jacket: black or navy blue (logos as above)
• Overjacket: black or navy blue encouraged but not compulsory
• Bags: these are compulsory for all pupils and must contain pens, pencils, jotters and books for the day, as well as PE kit when appropriate
• Blazers: navy blue only, compulsory for prefects, optional for all other students

Pupils are NOT allowed to wear the following:

• denim
• crop tops
• football scarves
• baseball caps
• non-black footwear
• pinstripe clothing
• overly short, tight or revealing clothing
• inappropriate or excessive make up and jewellery

Please feel free to contact the school for more information, on 0131 669 2324