How soon can I apply for a place?
You can apply for a place 6 weeks prior to your child starting. No applications will be accepted before this time. Nursery and P1 applications have separate arrangements. There is more information about this at the link at the end of this information sheet.
Do I need to be in the catchment area to apply for a place in school?
No, you do not need to be living in the catchment area to apply for a place. However catchment children do take priority over non-catchment children.
If there are currently no spaces for my child, can I be added to a waiting list?
Yes. We have a waiting list for catchment children. Children and young people are admitted to schools in the areas where they stay. These are known as the catchment areas for the school. An address will have a catchment Roman Catholic school and a catchment non-denominational school. Pupils living in the City of Edinburgh Council area have priority for places over pupils living in other local authority areas. The Council aims to provide places for P1 pupils at their catchment school if they are living in the catchment area by the end of February of the year that they will start in P1. It is important to note that a child must be resident in a house before a place is allocated. Evidence of a house purchase is not sufficient for the allocation of a place. If there are places available after catchment demand is met, placing requests for non-catchment pupils at P1 and all other stages will be allocated.
If my child already attends your nursery, is priority given to the child for a place?
Attendance at a school’s nursery (pre-school) is not considered when allocating places in schools. Your child is only entitled to a place in the primary school where they attend nursery if you live within the catchment area of that school.
What is the maximum number of children you can place in each class?
25 for P1 and 30 for P2 and P3 is implemented. The Scottish Government has agreed that it is interpreted as a ratio.
A national agreement has agreed a class size maximum of 33 from P4- 7.
Many schools across the city are experiencing increased demand from their own catchment population for P1 and S1 places. This has had the effect of reducing the number of places available for non-catchment pupils. This means that the number of placing requests being refused has risen. It is anticipated that number of requests being refused will be maintained at a high level as demand from catchment populations continues to grow.
Am I guaranteed a place if I move into the catchment area?
No. However, you can asked to be placed on our waiting list for catchment children.
If I am given a non-catchment place, am I guaranteed a place at the school’s catchment High School?
No. You will have to apply for a place at the catchment High School for your address. You can make a non-catchment “placing request” for this school’s catchment High School. Please be aware that very few placing requests are currently granted because of the demand from in-catchment children.
What if there is only a space for one of my children?
If you make a placing request for a non-catchment school and it is successful for one child, this does not guarantee that requests for younger children will be successful. This could mean that your younger children would attend a different school to their older brother or sister. You can ask for children whose not given places, to be placed on our waiting list.
Is there help available transporting my child to school if they are travelling from outside the catchment?
Parents must ensure their child arrives on time for school and there is no help with transport.
What documents do I need to supply when enrolling my child?
School places are allocated to children based on their main residence. All parents must provide proof of residence for a catchment place when they register their child for primary school. All allegations of false addresses will be investigated and places will be withdrawn if you have used a false address to gain a school place.
Can I place my child in a younger or older school year?
Children are placed in their year groups according to their date of birth. There are special arrangements in place for some children in nursery whose parents may be able to choose when to begin primary school.
What if my child requires additional support?
The school will set up a meeting with one of our Deputy Head Teachers and the Support for Learning Team. The school will discuss your child’s needs with their previous school whenever this is possible.
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