The move to Duddingston Road in 1964 did not fully alleviate the school’s overcrowding problems. New housing developments at Meadowfield and Magdalene had brought more families into the area. Starting in the mid-60s, the 229 ‘prefabs’ centred on Northfield Drive were replaced by higher density housing.

In 1969 the original school had to be reopened and all new intakes ‘served’ their first year there, in what for a generation would be referred to as ‘The Annexe’, travelling to the main school only for school dinners and perhaps the occasional class.

At April 1972 the school roll stood at 2045. It was officially recognized as the largest school in Scotland by the Guinness Book of Records.

The story was picked up by the Daily Record, which ran a double-page spread in February 1973 – “The Head with a Headache” – in which head teacher Mr Baggaley explained the challenges he and the school faced.

He and 99 of the 148 teachers on staff were pictured.

With credit to Ian Small