St Margaret’s School was founded in 1890 by James Buchanan. A few key dates and people:

• 1890 to 1897 – school founded by James Buchanan
• 1897 to 1929 – Principal Annie Buchanan; 1926 Morningside school sold and renamed St Hilary’s (two schools separated)
• 1929 to 1960 – Principal Miss Grace Matthew; St. Margaret’s school motto “Fortiter Vivamus” created
• 1961 to 1973 – Headmistress Miss Eva MacLean
• 1974 to 1984 – Headmistress Mrs Patricia Hiddleston
• 1983 – St Hilary’s merged with St Margaret’s (two schools reunited)
• 1984 to 1992 – Headmistress Mrs Monica Cameron
• 1992 to 1994 – Headmistress Elizabeth Lewis
• 1994 to ?? – Headmistress Anne Mitchell
• 1998 – St Margaret’s merged with St Denis and Cranley
• ?? to 2009 (?) – Headmistress Eileen Davis
• 2009 to 2010 (?) – Headmistress Ms Jennifer McGhee

Following the closure of the school in 2010, former pupils and staff took great care to ensure that as much as possible of the history of the school was preserved. St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh are kindly storing St Margaret’s archives and further information is held in the National Records of Scotland

If you have photos that you would be happy to share on this website or be added to the archives, please get in touch. It is so important to have as full a history as possible of a school that lasted so many years.