Gifford High was founded in 1927 and was known as Bulawayo Technical School. It was using rented St Georges Buildings in Main Street, with an enrolment of 29 students before it relocated to its current site in 1960, It was situated at the Old Bulawayo Polytechnic College along 11Th Avenue & George Silundika Road. A year later. On 19 August 1961 at a maiden Speech and Prize Giving Day, Bulawayo Technical School was renamed Gifford Technical High School, in honour of the founder Headmaster, Mr Henry P. Gifford.