Dalkeith High School PTA & PC

25/08/2026

Schools must be a safe environment for all pupils.

Phones can have a harmful effect on pupils' education and wellbeing.

That is why we're asking pupils, families and school staff to share their views on restricting phone use in schools.

Have your say: consult.gov.scot/education/restricting-mobile-phones-in-scotlands-schools/

16/08/2026

🚌 HTST UPDATE 🚌

Communications have been ongoing this week between DHS Parent Partnership and Midlothian Council. On Friday we sent a summary of issues that had unfolded once transport began last Thursday, and reminded on issues that were still unresolved to Kevin Anderson, Executive Director Place who has responded to say the subject will be discussed internally tomorrow Monday 17th.

In the meantime, Parent Council and Parent Partnership committees from across the authority also meet tomorrow to discuss our next steps as a collective of concerned parent partnerships/parent councils. We will continue to work together to challenge the council on the quality and basis of implementation of the HTST (school bus) changes.

🚍 WHAT YOU CAN DO:
*Continue to contact us or the school by email, message or commenting here with your/your children’s experiences.
*Put your concerns/objections in writing to the council via their complaints portal. Detail how the transport review is affecting you and your child(ren).

All complaints must be recorded and reported on so if your complaint isn’t logged, it isn’t counted:
https://my.midlothian.gov.uk/service/contact_us

The Council’s ‘Walked Route to School Assessment’ (link below) details the council’s assessment criteria which can be compared against the walking routes they have supplied:
https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/5631/walked_routes_to_school_assessment.pdf

The Council’s complaint procedure page outlines their complaint handling process:
https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/670/have_your_say/132/complaints_procedure

Responses should be signed off by a named official with an appropriate response timescale allowing due time and investigation to be applied to the complaint. So for example, if a complaint receives a response from the Travel Team, or a general sign off, or if their complaint is escalated to a stage 2 complaint with a response in a very fast turnaround, we would urge the complainant to query whether the council’s complaint guidelines had been appropriately applied.

If the Council’s complaint handling procedure is concluded and you remain dissatisfied with the outcome the council advise contacting the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO). The Ombudsman is the final stage for complaints about public services in Scotland. This includes complaints about Scottish councils. If you remain dissatisfied, you can ask the SPSO to look at your complaint.

The SPSO's contact details are:

• Freephone 0800 377 7330
or call 0131 225 5300

In person: Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Bridgeside House, 99 McDonald Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4NS
Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9am-5pm; Tuesday 10am-5pm.

By post:
Your Ref:
Our Ref: www.midlothian.gov.uk• Freepost SPSO

This is all you need to write on the envelope, and you don't need to use a stamp.

Online contact:
www.spso.org.uk/contact-us

Website: www.spso.org.uk

Mobile site: http://m.spso.org.uk

We STRONGLY recommend parents who are not satisfied with the council’s handling of their HTST application to:
1. Lodge a complaint using the council website complaint page linked above.
2. If still dissatisfied after Stage 2 complaint has been concluded, refer onwards to the the Ombudsman.

A significant number of complaints about the same issue with the same local authority will cause the Ombudsman to scrutinise the council who will then have to evidence that all of their policies and processes have been applied correctly.

While the process may seem discouraging, we recommend seeing it all the way through to the final Ombudsman stage as it increases the chances of your case being looked at objectively and the whole review being investigated.

🚌 🚍 🚌 🚍 🚌 🚍 🚌 🚍 🚌 🚍 🚌 🚍 Danderhall and District Community CouncilKing's Park Primary School Parent Council & PTATynewater Parent CouncilKirsty McNeill MP for MidlothianWoodburn Primary Parent PartnershipLasswade High School Parent CouncilMidlothianView.com

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) covers three functions. Please select which of our services you need below. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman The SPSO is the final stage for complaints about public service organisations in Scotland. Follow the link below if you would like to find out....

07/08/2026

‼️ UPDATE ‼️
MSP Colin Beattie has confirmed attendance at this evening’s 6pm meeting at SJKP Church Dalkeith, along with Cllrs Smaill, Russell and Scott and Chief Education Officer Michelle Strong and Director of Place Kevin Anderson.

*******************************************Evening all - please see meeting flyer attached and our Note of Concerns sent to Midlothian Council today.

We have arranged a public meeting for Monday evening (10th) 6-7pm at St John’s & Kingspark Church Dalkeith.

Come along and listen, or share about how this impacts you. ALL those affected across Midlothian, not just DHS families are welcome.

Kirsty McNeill MP ( [email protected] ) and Colin Beattie ( [email protected]) have been invited as well as your local councillors (some have already confirmed attendance!) so we encourage you to contact them to mention Monday’s meeting and request their attendance to hear parent's representations in person.

You can see our latest email to Midlothian Council that accompanied the meeting invite and Note of Concerns in the comments below.

Many thanks

DHS Parent Partnership

07/08/2026

Post 2 of 2:

‼️ Please see below the council response to the joint submission by Midlothian School Parent Councils/Partnerships regarding changes to home to school transport.

‼️ On Monday 10th August, 6-7pm at
St John’s and Kingspark Church, Dalkeith (opposite Morrisons) an open meeting will be held for parents and carers to come and share their concerns on Home to School Transport changes with publicly elected representatives.

07/08/2026

Post 1 of 2:

🎯 Please see below the joint submission sent to Midlothian Council by Midlothian School Parent Councils/Partnerships regarding changes to home to school transport.
🎯 The Council’s response will be shown in our next post.
🎯 On Monday 10th August, 6-7pm at
St John’s and Kingspark Church, Dalkeith (opposite Morrisons) an open meeting will be held for parents and carers to come and share their concerns on Home to School Transport changes with publicly elected representatives.

04/08/2026

Congratulations to ALL our exam students today on their results. Give yourself time to process, and remember there is no wrong path. Everyone can get to where they need to be. Professional advice services are available to support with anything you need to know and emails have been sent regarding school staff available for appointments next week.

Is you child waiting exam results? Get to know Qualifications Scotland’s Learner Support Hub, which features results help and resources.

You can find information about receiving results, the certificate, the appeals process and much more. Visit info.qualifications.gov.scot/results

And from 8am on Results Day you can reach out to them if you’ve got a question about the certificate:

- 0345 279 1000
- [email protected]

Whatever the outcome on Tuesday 4 August, the Learner Support Hub is here to help.

27/07/2026

‼️ UPDATE ‼️
This morning we have been notified that Kevin Anderson (Director of Place) and Michelle Strong (Chief Education Officer) will attend this evening’s meeting at 6-7pm and SJKP Church Dalkeith.
Several councillors have also confirmed attendance.
We look forward to welcoming parents and carers who wish to share their views on how the changes are affecting them, and the overall implementation of the new policy.
*****************************************
Midlothian Council has reviewed its Home To School Transport allocations in line with their Integrated Travel Policy and school transport letters were received by families last week.

Some may have been advised that their child does not qualify, even though they appear to meet the eligibility criteria.

We also understand that some people who have appealed the decision have been advised that it won't be reviewed until Sept, leaving them to rely on public transport from August, which may not be available at a suitable time, if at all.

As Parent Partnership we have been in contact with other primary and high school parent partnerships/parent councils and we have agreed to submit a joint submission complaint to the council which will address the main concerns and discrepancies and ask for specific actions to reduce the impact on families.

We will also be providing our own feedback to the council, with specific aspects affecting Dalkeith High pupils, which we will share with you here when submitted.

How can you help?

↘️ If you have been impacted by this decision, please comment below or get in touch via email telling us how you have been affected.

[email protected]

Any and all examples shared with the council to highlight issues will be anonymous. We will not refer to specific pupils or circumstances.

Even if you have submitted your own complaint, please let us know if and how you are affected as if you don’t tell us, we can’t build a case for helping our impacted families. ↙️

24/06/2026

Email update on management of camping on campus external grounds.

15/06/2026

If your young person has ideas about the community they live in, amenities and services, jobs and their future, they might enjoy contributing to the Midlothian Young Citizen’s Panel. It’s a great opportunity to have a say in decisions being made and good experience of participation in community development that can also be used on a CV or referred to in a job interview.

Your child sees Midlothian differently than you do. They notice what happens at school, what the buses are like, whether the local park is safe, what job opportunities look like from their perspective. That matters.

The Midlothian Young Citizens’ Panel is now open to anyone aged 11–17 living in Midlothian. Your child can share their views on the issues that affect them — from education and transport to health, green spaces, community safety, and more.

They’ll receive surveys on Vision 2050: Single Midlothian Plan, 2027–2030 — either online or by post.

You'll be asked about topics that matter to you: education, jobs, transport, mental health, staying safe, community, climate action, and tackling poverty. This helps to shape Midlothian's priorities for 2027–2030 and beyond.

👉SIGN UP — it only takes two minutes:
🔗https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/uxy2e5

IMPORTANT - If you're under 16, Engage Scotland will send your parent or guardian an email with a link to confirm their consent. It takes just two minutes to approve.

Consultation feedback will be heard by Midlothian Community Planning Partnership — including Midlothian Council, NHS Lothian, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and many more.

Open to anyone aged 11–17 living in Midlothian.

Questions? Contact Engage Scotland at [email protected] or 0800 433 7212.