In the Report of the Presbyterian Visitation of August  1598, it is said that "they  fand na schoolmaster in the parish, qlk they desyrit thame to amend." Whether this recommendation was immediately attended to does not appear; but from an entry at the commencement of the parish register, it is evident that a school existed previous to 1646. In that entry it is stated, that " Mr. James Chalmer had agreed to be schoolmaster on receiving one hundred merks, for the payment of which the whole heritors were to be stented according to the proportion of their lands, in addition to what had been doted to former schoolmasters by George Lord Forrester, viz. ane house and yards within the towne of Corstorphine, lying betwixt the minister's manse on the east, and John Aitken, mason, on the west, together with ane aiker and half of land lying above the smiddie upon the east side of the walk which goes to Cramond, and an aiker of land lying bewest the Cowesbrigge, upon the south syde of the little house that stands in the way-side, commonly called the Lamp Aiker (i), within the parochine of St. Cuthberts," &c.  In December 1655, the Session, by advice of the Presbytery, prohibited a man and his wife from teaching in the village, as an interference with the rights of the parochial schoolmaster.  In 1699, however, it appears that there were two schoolmasters in the parish, the one probably teaching at Corstorphine, and the other at Gogar.

In April 1714, the fees per quarter to be charged by the parish schoolmaster were fixed by the kirk-session as follows, viz. Latin and arithmetic, 2s. 6d.; English and writing, 1s. 8d.; English alone, 1s. 2d.  In September 1756, they were altered by the same authority to the following sums:-- Latin, 5s.; writing and arithmetic, 2s. 6d.; English, 2s., The fees now chargeable are, English, 2s. 6d.; writing, 3s.; writing and arithmetic, including mensuration and geography, 3s. 6d.; Latin or French, 5s.  The average number attending the parish school is from 50 to 70. The annual salary of the parish schoolmaster is L.34, 4s., and his perquisites are a dwelling-house, garden, and one acre and one rood of land in the village, with the Lamp Acre, near Coltbridge, in St. Cuthbert's parish, which has been feued to Mr. Murray of Henderland for the following feu-duties per acre, viz. one boll wheat, one boll oats, and one boll barley.

There has been, since the middle of the seventeenth century, a school at the village of Gogar.  It is supported by subscriptions, which at present amount to L.9 per annum.  The school fees per quarter are, for English, 2s. 6d., and for English and arithmetic, 3s.   The number of scholars averages about 40.   Some years ago a school was opened at Stanhopemill, and last year another at Four-mile-end.  These are taught by Dissenters, and have no support except the fees paid by the scholars.  There is a thriving female school in the village of Corstorphine, and there are Sabbath schools both there and in Gogar.

A parish library was collected in the village of Corstorphine in 1838 by the present clergyman.
 

i.  See Last Statistical Account for origin of this name