2006

Janet Chesney is offered land by the Mbano family to build a girls high school in the area of Engcongolweni in northern Malawi. The Chesney Trust for Education in Malawi is registered as a charity in Scotland and as an NGO in Malawi.

2008 - 2009

The Ubale (friendship) bridge is constructed to give access to the school site. It provides a lifeline for communities when the rains come. Hon Catherine Gotani Hara MP, Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Community Development, officially opens the bridge in October 2009. She also performs the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the school.

2010

Construction of two double classroom blocks and a set of 4 pit latrines is completed. A two-bed room staff house and staff pit latrine is also completed.

2011-2012

After earlier unsuccessful attempts, water is found in a borehole at 62 m, 600 m from the school boundary on Mbano land. Thank you to Anne and Paul Corrigan for funding this. A maize mill, with a diesel driven motor, is commissioned in September 2011.  

2012-2013

In August 2012 water pumped is from the borehole using a solar power pump and piped to the school site, and to the hostel and teacher’s house. The official registration of the Edinburgh Girls’ High School takes place and five girls are admitted to Form 1 on 1 October, increasing to 12 later that year. A hostel is constructed by the end of the year, allowing boarders in January 2013. Day pupils become boarders and the total roll increased to 35 girls. 

2013-2014

The administration block housing the library, staff rooms and the school office is built. Furthermore, two 3-bedroom houses to accommodate two teachers and their families are built. A second hostel accommodating 80 girls is built.

2015

A 2-bedroomed teacher’s house, as well as a nursery school is built.

2015-2016

A Science Block, with separate laboratories for chemistry, physics and biology, is constructed, and a start is made on equipping the chemistry laboratory.  A new kitchen/dining hall is being built and solar power is installed for electricity in administration block, hostels and teachers’ accommodation. The water supply is upgraded and now 20,000 litres of water can be pumped per day.

2016-2017

In June 2016, the school’s first graduation takes place. In October, a school party from the Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh visits and they build a brick kiln during their visit. In November, the school wins the gold medal in the TEVET 2016 Career Guidance choir competition for northern region schools, coming top of the eleven schools entered. In March and April 2017, eleven pupils are offered University places.

2017-2018

Small houses for the matron and for a teacher, and a duplex house for teachers, are completed. The head teacher’s house is completed.

2018-2019

A large hall and kitchen funded by Beit Trust are completed and solar power installed. A coaster bus is purchased thanks to ESMS primary school pupils walking part of the West Highland Way.

A highlight of the year is the visit of 20 pupils from the Edinburgh Girls' High School, with four teachers, to Scotland to take part dancing and singing in the Edinburgh Tattoo.

A shipment of 23 boxes of clothes, books, toys and stationery sent by ESMS to Malawi through The Banana Box Trust.

2019-2020

A library/computer room funded by Beit Trust was completed and solar power installed with a grant from the Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust.

Solar power and lighting installed in two duplex teachers’ houses. A new toilet block is built.

The school closed in March 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Malawi School Certificate Examination, normally held in June, is postponed.

2020-2021

Solar power and lighting are installed in the remaining teachers' houses.

A new head teacher is appointed in July 2021.

2021-2022

 A new 4-door toilet is constructed in May.