Everyone remembers their school days and making those early memories that will live on with us.
As time wears on many of Edinburgh’s old schools have closed, been demolished or amalgamated onto a new site.
Across the city, new houses have sprung up in place of some of the buildings. Some are awaiting redevelopment to start or to finish, including the Old Royal High school which was at the heart of plans for a new National Centre for Music. But the plans which would have seen St Mary’s specialist school at the heart of the £45 million project have been ditched by the Trust, citing major building works needed to adapt the building are ‘no longer practical’. The future of the old school is now cast in doubt.
Take a look at these ten schools that have been repurposed. It’s a snapshot not an exclusive list, so get in touch with any others you want to see featured.
. Tynecastle High School
The building that housed Tynecastle High was built in 1912, and the school itself was founded that same year. After 98 years at the same site, the school moved to a different location on the same street. In 2023, the Scottish Government approved plans to convert the old Tynecastle High site into student housing. Photo: Ian Georgeson
. Juniper Green Primary School
Juniper Green Primary once stood on Woodhall Terrace in Juniper Green. After the school moved to a new campus, its old site was converted into flats. Photo: Lisa Ferguson Photo: Lisa Ferguson
5. Victoria Primary school
Founded in 1844, Victoria Primary School spent over 170 years at its original Newhaven site and was widely considered Edinburgh’s oldest working school. After the school relocated to a new, purpose-built campus, the future of the Victorian building was thrown into question. Plans have since been announced to convert the building into a community centre. Photo: EEN
6. Donaldson's School
Designed by William Henry Playfair, the former Donaldson's school for the Deaf has long been regarded among Edinburgh's finest architectural treasures. A new luxury housing development occupies the grounds and the main building is being transformed for residential use. Photo: Lisa Ferguson
7. Portobello High School
Portobello High School was one of the largest state schools in Europe. In 2016, the school moved to a new site less than a mile away from Duddingstone Road, where the original campus stood. The giant building at Duddingston Park was flattened in June 2017 and a replacement school built on park land less than a mile away. The original site is now housing. Photo: EEN
8. Ainslie Park School
Ainslie Park Secondary School has been converted into the new Varsity development of flats at Crew Road North. The 1930’s art deco front of the building was preserved. Photo: Lesley Martin