We’ll guide you through the basics and show you how to navigate Ancestry and British Newspaper Archive, two brilliant resources for family history and both free to use in all Edinburgh Libraries. The session ends with a short tour of the physical genealogical resources held in the Edinburgh and Scottish Collection.
Education, Children and Families Convenor, Cllr James Dalgleish reflects on the start of both SQA exams and the Summer term for schools:
This week saw a return to the school routine after the Easter break for learners, teachers and school staff across the city. With the weather promising the start of Spring I know that, mirroring the shift in seasons, for many young people this time of year marks a transition from school to what comes next.
The annual SQA National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams started this week, running until 1 June. For many learners, particularly those taking SQA Awards and Skills for Work vocational subjects, assessments have already taken place throughout the academic year.
I have been pleased to see the shift from academic achievement as the sole means to measure attainment in recent years. We are focused on improving outcomes for all learners and this includes acknowledging that each of our young people are unique individuals with their own talents, skills, ambitions and aspirations.
For many young people, a timetable of academic subjects followed by formal exams works well but others are better suited to dynamic, hands-on learning – some find that a mix of the two suits them best.
Our award winning and innovative pathways work aims to increase the number of learners in positive destinations after school. We offer unique and tailored routes for all young people – whether university, college, an apprenticeship or the world of work is what’s next.
We work with a range of partners including Edinburgh College and local roofing and construction businesses to deliver National 5 qualifications. Alongside this, we offer courses in business skills, creative and digital media, food and drink, financial services among others – and starting in August, barbering.
It is positive that through our innovative partnership approach, the attainment of school leavers in the national benchmarks have improved across most measures in recent years. The number of vocational National Progression Awards achieved by City of Edinburgh school leavers increased from 1433 in 2023 to 2365 in 2025 – and in 2026, this is expected to rise again.
We are committed to offering the highest quality education that meets the needs of all our learners, narrowing the gap between the most and least disadvantaged young people and breaking the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage.
There is no ‘right’ route for a young person but there is the right support, guidance and opportunity to find a future path that fits.
So, as we all enjoy the sunshine and look ahead to Spring, Summer and beyond – let’s celebrate the start of a new school term and the potential it brings.
Good luck to all young people sitting exams over the next few months. I wish each of you all the best as you look ahead to life beyond school.
This article first appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News
Significant refurbishment and retrofit work at Brunstane Primary School is now complete and the school building has been handed over in time for the start of the new school term.
GRAHAM were appointed to deliver a multi-phase transformation project to retrofit the school building. The improvement works adopted a ‘fabric first’ approach – a sustainable building design strategy that maximises the performance of materials and components aiming to reduce energy demand and carbon impact.
Following the works, the school building has achieved the highest EPC rating of A, acknowledging the energy efficiency of the building.
The building works, which started in October 2024, include a three-storey tower and a single-storey block incorporating 14 classrooms and pupil support spaces, as well as a gym hall, kitchen and staff areas.
Supporting the Council to meet its sustainability commitments, a new energy centre was built on site including an air source heat pump which serves an updated heating system and replaces the existing gas boilers. Photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof along with new insulated cladding on both external walls and roof, with improvements to windows.
This investment in sustainable measures reduces the environmental impact of the building and offers a healthier and more comfortable learning environment for pupils and staff.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener said: “We want all our schools and early years settings to offer the best possible learning environment for our children and young people.
“Central to this is ongoing investment in our school buildings to ensure that they meet the needs of our learners, offer a comfortable learning and teaching setting and support our net-zero goals.
“It is fantastic to see that the refurbishment works at Brunstane Primary School are complete, just in time for pupils and staff returning after the Easter break.
“The improvements to the building will make a huge difference to how the school building is used by teachers and pupils in the here and now, and for many future generations of young learners in Brunstane.”
Chris MacLeod, regional managing director at GRAHAM Building, said: “The handover of Brunstane Primary School marks the successful completion of a complex retrofit project delivered within a live school environment.
“Pupils and staff can now benefit from a modern, energy-efficient space that supports both learning and wellbeing, while considered sustainability elements will significantly reduce the building’s carbon footprint.
“Throughout the programme, our focus has been on minimising disruption and working collaboratively with the school to ensure a smooth delivery.”
during the first phase (indicatively, Tuesday 5 May 2026 to Tuesday 26 May 2026), parking in the eastern area of the space to the north of the shopping centre will be restricted. The bus stop outside the shopping centre will be closed and a new temporary bus stop created to the west, outside the police station. The westbound lane of Ferry Road will be closed outside the shopping centre. The northern entrance to the shopping centre will be closed to vehicles, so vehicles accesssing the car park will need to take a short detour down Easter Drylaw View and along Easter Drylaw Place.
during the second phase (indicatively, Thursday 28 May 2026 to Thursday 18 June 2026), parking in the western area of the space to the north of the shopping centre will be restricted. The bus stop outside the shopping centre will be closed and a new temporary bus stop created to the west, outside the police station. The westbound lane of Ferry Road will be closed for a section outside the western end of the shopping centre.
during the third and final phase (indicatively, Thursday 18 June 2026 to Wednesday 24 June 2026), parking in the bays to the southeast of the shopping centre, on Easter Drylaw Place, will be restricted.
Pedestrian access to the shops will not be obstructed. Signs will be displayed to let people know that the shopping centre is open as usual. Deliveries to the rear of the shopping centre will not be affected.
The Hailes Quarry Park course was officially opened this week by the Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Margaret Graham.
Disc golf is played in a similar way to traditional golf, but instead of clubs and balls, players throw a flying disc towards a fixed metal basket. Each hole begins at a designated tee area, with players continuing from where their previous throw lands until they reach the target.
With more than 12,000 courses worldwide, disc golf is one of the fastest-growing sports globally. Despite its popularity, the nearest course to Edinburgh was located in Dunbar and required an entry fee.
The new course is free to use and open to everyone, offering a great opportunity for individuals, families, and groups to get outdoors and try something new.
Supported by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), it has been developed and will be maintained by the newly established Edinburgh Disc Golf Community (EDGC), helping to grow the sport locally.
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “It’s fantastic to see more opportunities like this being introduced at Hailes Quarry Park. Having activities that are free and open to all makes a real difference, and I hope it encourages people of all ages to come along and give disc golf a go.
“I had such a great time having a shot on the course during the launch and I’m sure this will be a valuable addition for the community.
“Supporting people to be more active is a key priority, and initiatives like this play an important role in making that happen.”
Edinburgh Disc Golf Community member, Peter Dawson, said: “It is brilliant to finally be opening Edinburgh’s first disc golf course!
“The Scottish Open was first held on the Isle of Mull in 1992 and since then disc golf courses have been popping up all around Scotland so it’s brilliant to finally be opening Edinburgh’s first course!
“The Edinburgh Disc Golf Community formed in 2023 to bring disc golf to the city so it’s very exciting to see all our plans become a reality. Hailes Quarry Park is the perfect location, and we are incredibly grateful to the local community for their warm welcome to ‘The Quarry’.
“We can’t wait to share this fast growing, free to play, inclusive sport and welcome them into the community – if you can throw a frisbee you can play Disc Golf!”
We need your help to shape the future of the Community Grant Fund – you have until 4th May to have your say.
You may be aware that the Community Empowerment and Engagement Team are in the process of making changes to the Community Grants Fund (CGF).
This began with an evaluation of the current funding model in 2024, then in 2025 we worked with CGF volunteers, applicants and grant experts to develop three options for a refreshed funding model for the CGF.
As we enter the next phase of the process, we’d like your views on which funding model option meets the following aims:
reduces barriers to accessing the fund
creates opportunities for wider community participation in decision-making
improves the efficiency of the fund
Your feedback will directly influence how the fund operates, making it more accessible and impactful for communities across Edinburgh. The survey takes just a few minutes to complete:
Please also share the link to complete the survey with anyone who lives or works in Edinburgh, who might benefit from the community grant fund.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team. Thank you for helping us create a stronger, more inclusive community grants process.
Best wishes,
The Community Empowerment and Engagement Team
Community Empowerment & Engagement Officer | Community Empowerment & Engagement Team | Culture and Wellbeing | Place | The City of Edinburgh Council | Waverley Court 1.7 | 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG | Tel 0131 200 4088 | Mob 07718569916 | www.edinburgh.gov.uk
A shuttle bus service will run daily from Tuesday 21 April to connect Davidson’s Mains and Cramond while the 47 bus is out of service on that section of the route.
– Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes starting from the Tesco in Davidson’s Mains.
– They will run daily from 7am – 7pm.
– They will travel on a loop between Tesco at Davidson’s Mains, along Cramond Road South, Gamekeeper’s Road, and Cramond Road North. We expect the full loop to take around 15 minutes subject to traffic.
– The buses will stop at all bus stops that are usually serviced by the 47 bus along that section of the route.
– Each bus can hold up to 16 people.
There is also a replacement bus service between Cammo and Cramond.
With the deadline for new voter registration at 11:59pm on MONDAY 20 APRIL fast approaching, the city council is reminding all eligible residents in Edinburgh to register in time.
Registering online is quick and easy, with full details on the UK Government’s website. If you have recently moved home or your details have changed you will need to register to vote again.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April, and for a proxy vote it’s 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.
Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “Next week marks several crucial milestones as our city prepares for polling day.
“We want everyone to be able to cast their vote and make their voice heard in this election. I’d urge anyone in Edinburgh who is eligible to make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible.”
Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday May 7. You can find your nearest polling place on our website. The count will take place on Friday May 8.
Photography enthusiasts are being encouraged to enter a competition running until October celebrating three decades of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were first inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 making this World Heritage Day (Saturday, 18 April) so special as the competition is part of the Site’s 30th birthday celebrations.
This makes this weekend the perfect time to explore the Old and New Towns to capture images of one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world.
Entries will be grouped into twelve categories, each celebrating a particular value of Scotland’s capital city. The winning photograph in each category will become part of a year-long calendar, which will be sold on Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money for the Trust.
The over-all winner will take pride of place on the front cover of the calendar and will receive a one-year membership for Historic Scotland, who run top-rated visitor attractions all over the country.
The entries will be judged by Tom Duffin, a professional photographer who specialises in showcasing Edinburgh’s heritage; Neil Hanna, a multi-award-winning photographer with over 35 years of experience; and Jane Bradley, celebrated Arts and Culture Correspondent at the Scotsman.
This year’s World Heritage Day celebrations also include the following event:
DID JOHN BAYNE TAKE A SECRET TO HIS GRAVE?
TODAY (Saturday 18 April) as part of the Legacies in Stone project, Edinburgh World Heritage, the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the Council (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) aim to lift the lid on a secret centuries in the making: does a broken gravestone in John Bayne’s mausoleum hide a forgotten burial vault?
By repairing a simple flat grave slab, the aim is to unlock the mystery of this unique tomb in Scotland’s most famous kirkyard.
How to join:
In person: Attend the event in Greyfriars Kirkyard, followed by expert talks at Augustine United Church.
Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: “This year World Heritage Day is so special as there is much to celebrate. The 30th birthday is a significant achievement and milestone to reach as looking after the Site with our partners takes a lot of care and has many challenges. Edinburgh is a living, breathing city and it needs to be well managed to balance the needs of our residents, businesses and visitors.
“This World Heritage Day is a great time to enter our photography competition as it’s a lovely time of year to capture the changing light, sunsets and skylines this part of our stunning capital city is so famous for.
“The beautiful spring flowers appearing in the many gardens and open spaces are also there for us all to enjoy. If you’re interested in photography, why not explore the area this weekend to capture what inspires you most about the Old and New Towns.
“You could combine your visit to find out if John Bayne took a secret to his grave by attending the event in Greyfriars Kirkyard – or if history is more your interest – just attend the event instead.”
George Findlater, Head of Community and Economic Development at Historic Environment Scotland, said:“After thirty years of being a World Heritage Site, Edinburgh continues to inspire admiration from visitors and locals alike.
“We are excited to offer a year’s membership to Historic Scotland as a prize in the photography competition, and World Heritage Day is a terrific opportunity to bring out your camera and capture what makes Edinburgh so unique across the competition categories.”
Douglas Brotherston, Chairman of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “Thirty years as a World Heritage Site is quite a wonderful achievement and we are delighted at Edinburgh World Heritage, together with our partners at HES and the City of Edinburgh Council to mark the occasion by holding this photography competition.
“The unique appeal of Edinburgh’s streets and landscapes, skylines and special heritage is so varied, it lives up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We hope that we will get many entries from locals and visitors alike who can capture the glorious views of our spectacular city.”
The twelve categories for which applicants can submit their photographs are:
