School Catchment arrangements

The following gives some general information that may be helpful when you are considering a place in school for your child.

Catchment Areas

Edinburgh divides the city into catchment areas. Your full ADDRESS determines the schools where you would be given PRIORITY admission.

This includes a:

• Non Denominational Primary School
• Non Denominational Secondary School
• Roman Catholic Primary School
• Roman Catholic Secondary School
  

Choosing a School

Parents have a right to express a preference for a particular school and the Council will accommodate this wherever possible. If you are happy to send your child to the catchment school you usually need to enrol him/her on the advertised date. This procedure generally starts in mid November of the year before your child is due to begin school - Primary Stage 1 (P1) or Secondary Stage 1 (S1). By the end of April of the following year, parents are informed of allocated places. Places are not allocated until demand is assessed against the number of available places at individual schools.

This does mean that children moving into the catchment area after this date may find that there are no immediately available places, although your child would be placed on a waiting list:

• Priority 1 - children living within the catchment area
• Priority 2 - children with sibling/s already attending the school
• Priority 3 - proximity to school

Transfer to Secondary

You should note that if your child is allocated a P1 place at a school from outwith the catchment area, at S1 transfer you will be reserved a place at the secondary school that serves your ADDRESS, and NOT at the secondary school which feeds from the primary school. See listing of Primary Schools and Associated Secondary Schools.

When to enrol your child

• For all stages, other than entry to P1 or transfer to S1 you should contact the school directly.
• For entry to P1 at the catchment school, enrol during registration week in mid November.
• For entry to S1 at the catchment school you do not need to take any action. In mid November a letter will be sent to you indicating the school where your child will be allocated a place.
• For entry to P1, and transfer to S1 at non-catchment schools, forms will be available in mid November.
• For entry to Nursery school, contact the Nursery School directly to place your child’s name on a waiting list after his/her second birthday. Nursery Schools are not managed by catchment area, therefore you are free to choose city-wide subject to availability.

Further Information

Catchment area enquiries 0131 469 3219 / 469 3351
or email your query to: school.catchments@edinburgh.gov.uk

Primary 1 intake enquires 0131 469 3033
Secondary 1 intake enquiries 0131 469 3032
General intake enquiries 0131 469 3035 / 469 3471
or email your intake enquiry to: PSS@educ.edin.gov.uk

Nursery/pre-school enquiries 0131 529 2105 / 529 2412

Contact any primary or secondary school for a non-catchment Placing Request application form in mid November or:

Grants, Awards and Placements
City of Edinburgh Council
Children and Families Department
Level 1/2, Waverley Court
4 East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG

Related Links

• Choosing a School - Scottish Executive guide for parents (PDF)
• School handbook
• Session dates
• Scottish Executive – includes reports on schools that have been inspected. Telephone 0131 244 0648 for paper copies
• Parent Zone Scotland – includes information on Rights and Responsibilities; Curriculum; Special Education