Schools & Catchment Areas

Find schools, check catchments, and understand your rights

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Edinburgh Schools.

Edinburgh City Council operates 98 primary schools and 23 secondary schools. All council schools are free. Your child's school is determined by your home address β€” unless you apply for a placing request.

98
Primary schools
Council-run, free
23
Secondary schools
Including RC schools
3
Gaelic-medium
Gaelic-medium units
P1–P5
Free school meals
Universal free meals

Find your catchment school

Enter your postcode on the Council's official catchment tool to see which primary and secondary school your address falls in. This is the school your child has an automatic right to attend.

πŸ—ΊοΈ Open Edinburgh Catchment Finder β†’

Opens the official Edinburgh City Council tool β€” enter any EH postcode to get your catchment schools.

What is a catchment area?

Every address in Edinburgh is assigned to a specific primary school and secondary school. Children living in that area have a right to a place at their catchment school. If you want a different school, you must apply through a placing request.

Can I choose a different school?
Yes β€” submit a placing request to the council by the deadline. The school must consider your request but is not obliged to accept if the school is full.
What if I move house?
Your catchment changes with your address. If you move mid-year, contact the Council's School Placement team to update your child's school allocation.
Do siblings get priority?
Yes. Siblings of children already attending a school (including RC schools) get priority in placing requests, even if outside the catchment.
What about RC (Catholic) schools?
RC schools serve a wider geographic area based on parish boundaries, not street-by-street catchments. Priority is given to baptised Catholics.

Key contacts

School Placement Team
For catchment queries, placing requests, and in-year admissions
0131 469 3000
Council Education Department
Official schools portal β€” applications, policies, term dates
Visit β†’
Education Scotland
National body for education standards and inspection reports
Visit β†’