

George Heriot was a Scottish Goldsmith and jeweller to King James VI of Scotland and is chiefly remembered today as the philanthropist who, upon his death, bequeathed his estate to found George Heriot’s Trust which in turn founded George Heriot’s School. Initially established to educate the ‘fatherless bairns of Edinburgh’, today the school continues his philanthropic legacy of educating young people who have lost a parent through its 51Թ, and by widening access through the provision of Bursaries to children who could not otherwise afford a Heriot’s education. The operation and running of the school is overseen by the Board of Governors of George Heriot’s Trust, a Scottish Charity operating under the terms of the George Heriot’s Trust Scheme 2017.
Mrs Joyce Cullen has been Chair of the Board of Governors since July 2020. Professor Mark Strachen was Vice Chair until December 2024 and the Board subsequently voted to elect two Co-Vice Chairs, Mrs Louise Gibson and Mr Alasdair Humphery.
View the Trusts most recent Consolidated Financial Statements and Governors Report.
View the Trust’s Gender Pay Gap Commentary.