I often receive questions about Edinburgh catchment areas, questions about ‘good’ schools, and even home schooling. Even as a teacher who has worked in both state and independent schools it all still is a bit of a mine field. But I’m hoping that this post will help as school application season approaches for both state and independent schools. Whether your child is starting Primary 1 in August 2026 or transitioning to Secondary 1, here’s everything you need to know about dates, cutoffs, and assessment days.
State Schools: Primary 1 Registration
Who Needs to Register
If your child’s date of birth is between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022, they are due to start primary school in August 2026.
Key Dates for P1 Applications
- P1 Open Days: Wednesday 5 November 2025 at all Edinburgh primary schools
- Registration Opens: 1 November 2025
- Registration Deadline: 15 November 2025
- Placing Request Deadline: 24 December 2025
- Catchment Guarantee Cutoff: 24 December 2025 (you must be resident in the catchment area by this date)
How to Apply
Registration is completed online through the City of Edinburgh Council website. You’ll need to upload:
- Your child’s birth certificate
- Proof of address (Council Tax liability is now checked centrally, but you may need two proofs of address if not liable for Council Tax)
- Baptism certificate (if applying to Roman Catholic schools)
Catchment Schools
Every Edinburgh address has three catchment school options:
- A non-denominational primary school
- A Roman Catholic primary school
- Edinburgh’s Gaelic primary school, Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce (no prior knowledge of Gaelic required)
You can find your catchment schools using the Council’s interactive catchment map. Whilst you can apply for an ‘out of catchment’ school, there is no guarantee that you will be successful – even if you have an older child at the school, and even if you live close to the boundary. It really just depends on how many children live in catchment already and if the school is full!
Roman Catholic Schools: Important Notes
For RC school places, priority is given to baptised Roman Catholic children whose parents provide baptismal certificates by 24 December 2025. If RC schools are oversubscribed, children not baptised in the Roman Catholic faith will be prioritised by distance from the school, with unsuccessful applicants offered places at their non-denominational catchment school.
State Schools: Secondary 1 Allocation
Automatic Allocation Process
Unlike primary school, parents do not need to register for S1. All P7 pupils living in Edinburgh are automatically allocated a secondary school place in November 2025 provided they have attended state primary school. The school allocated depends on:
- The denomination of your child’s primary school
- Your home address
Key Dates for S1
- Allocation Letters Sent: November 2025
- Placing Request Deadline: 24 December 2025
- Catchment Guarantee Cutoff: 24 December 2025
- Transition Days: Typically mid-June (3-day programme)
Placing Requests
Even if your child has attended a ‘feeder’ primary school, you will still be given a place in your catchment secondary school. If you want your child to attend a different secondary school, you must submit a placing request by 24 December 2025. The exception to this is children who attend Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce and wish to continue their Gaelic education – as there is currently only one secondary (James ‘Gillespie’s’) with a Gaelic specialism. James Gillespie’s was ranked 7th in Edinburgh and 35th in Scotland, so unsurprisingly, is viewed as a desirable school but committing to a Gaelic Education is a large ask to gain a place if you’re not lucky enough to live in catchment.
Independent Schools: Assessment Deadlines
Edinburgh’s independent schools conduct assessments between November 2025 and January 2026 for August 2026 entry. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown by school:
The Edinburgh Academy
Primary 1
- Application Deadline: 28 November 2025
- Assessment Day: 5 January 2026
- Offers Sent: 3 February 2026 (by email)
- Acceptance Deadline: 23 February 2026
Primary 2-6
- Application Deadline: 7 November 2025
- Assessment Day: 22 November 2025
- Offers Sent: Week of 8 December 2025
- Acceptance Deadline: 23 January 2026
Geits (Primary 7)
- Application Deadline: 21 November 2025
- Assessment Day: 6 December 2025
George Heriot’s School
Primary 1-7
- Application Deadline: 15 November 2025
- P1 Assessment Day: 17 January 2026
- P1 Offers Posted: 2 February 2026 (by email 3 February)
Senior 1-5
- Application Deadline: 1 December 2025
Assessment dates run from November to January depending on entry point. Late applications only accepted if spaces available.
George Watson’s College
Preschool
- Application Deadline: 5 December 2025
- Places offered from September on first-come, first-served basis
Primary 1
- Application Deadline: 5 December 2025
- Assessment Day: 10 January 2026
Primary 2-6
- Application Deadline: 14 November 2025
- Assessment Day: 29 November 2025
Primary 7
- Application Deadline: 14 November 2025
- Assessment Days: 21 and 28 November 2025
Senior 1-3
- Application Deadline: 5 December 2025
- Assessment Day: 9 January 2026
Senior 5
- Application Deadline: 5 December 2025
- Assessment Day: 16 January 2026
St George’s School (Girls)
S1
- Assessment Morning and Taster Day: 16 and 20 January 2026
- Offers Sent: 5 February 2026
- Common Deadline: 26 February 2026 (S1-S6 offers)
P1-P7
- Offers Sent: 2 February 2026
- Common Deadline: 23 February 2026
Assessment for other year groups can be arranged at mutually convenient times throughout the year.
Erskine Stewart Melville – previously The Mary Erskine School and Stewart’s Melville College
- Recommended Application Deadline: 8 December 2025 for August 2026 entry
- Applications accepted after this date
- S1 Offers: Usually mid-February (agreed date with other Edinburgh independent schools)
- Registration Fee: £108 (non-refundable)
Fettes College
16+ (Sixth Form)
- Application Deadline: 2 November 2025
- Assessment Day: 11 November 2025
13+ (Third Form/Year 9/S3)
- Application Deadline: 14 January 2026
- Assessment Day: 27 January 2026
Scholarships available in seven categories: Academic, All-Rounder, Art, Drama, Music, Piping and Snare Drumming, and Sports.
Merchiston Castle School (Boys)
Main entry points at ages 7, 14, and 16, but applications accepted for any age 7-18 subject to places being available. The school follows a flexible admissions process with assessments arranged individually.
Common Offer Deadlines
Edinburgh independent schools operate a common deadline system to prevent pressure on families. This means:
- P1-P7 Common Deadline: 23 February 2026
- S1-S6 Common Deadline: 26 February 2026
No school can pressure families to accept or decline offers before these deadlines.
Financial Assistance and Bursaries
Most Edinburgh independent schools offer means-tested bursaries ranging from 10% to 100% of fees.
Bursary Application Deadlines
- The Edinburgh Academy: Early January
- St George’s School: Applications for 2025-2026 now closed; apply mid-January for following year
- Erskine Stewart Melville: Applicants must inform Admissions and complete application form
- General Guidance: Most schools require bursary applications by early January for the year of entry.
Bursaries are assessed by external providers and reviewed annually. They can cover not only tuition but also uniforms, books, and trips. Sadly, there are less bursaries on offer at some schools following the VAT hike by the Labour government. However, the George Heriot’s Foundation is still available for children who have lost a parent with a tiered support system.
Another common question that seems to come up is ‘which Independent School is the best in Edinburgh’. However, I have to say that really depends on your children and would advise either visiting a number on their Open Day or requesting a tour during the school day. You’ll quickly pick up on the ‘vibe’ of the school and know whether it’s the right fit.
If you’re currently home educating or attending an independent school but you’re looking to move to State School for S1 – you can ask for a place in your preferred catchment secondary school by
completing the placing request form. You will be asked to provide your child’s birth certificate and proof of address.
To move from Independent to State in other year groups – you need to contact the school directly and they will send you the relevant paper work. Many Secondary Schools currently have waiting lists with those ranked high (in terms of exam results) generally being seen as desirable – Boroughmuir, The Royal High School, Firrhill, St Thomas of Aquin’s, Craigmount, and Balerno. However, exam results are not the only indicator of a ‘good’ school and many of the schools across the city do see their pupils moving on to positive destinations. At the end of the day, the Edinburgh house prices reflect these catchment areas and it’s just another way of paying for school. So many parents opt to live outside of the city or in areas with lower house prices and opt for Independent Schools instead. That said, in the last 10 years school fees have more than doubled and as salaries certainly have not… this may just be an option of the past!
Age Requirements and Deferrals
Children born between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022 are expected to start P1 in August 2026. However, many people also choice to ‘defer’ to allow their children a little more time to play and development before ‘big school.’
Parents can apply to defer their child’s entry to P1 for one year. Children born in January and February can automatically defer with another funded year of early learning and childcare. Whereas children born between mid-August and December require discretionary deferral approval from the Council. You should still register for P1 even if you plan to defer.
Planning Ahead
October 2025
- Research schools and attend open days
Early November 2025
- Attend P1 Open Days at state schools (5 November)
- Complete P1 online registration (opens 1 November)
- Submit early applications to independent schools with November deadlines
Mid-November 2025
- Complete P1 registration by 15 November for state schools
- Secondary school allocation letters arrive for P7 pupils
Late November-December 2025
- Independent school assessments for P2-P7 at various schools
- Submit placing requests by 24 December
- Complete baptism certificate submissions for RC schools by 24 December
January 2026
- Primary 1 and S1 assessments at most independent schools
- Bursary application deadlines at many schools
February 2026
- Offers sent from independent schools
- Common acceptance deadlines (23 February for P1-P7, 26 February for S1-S6)
Important Reminders
- Your nearest school may not be your catchment school. Always check using the official catchment area map.
- Proof of residence is crucial. You must be living in the catchment area by 24 December 2025 to guarantee a catchment place.
- Placing requests are not guaranteed. They are only granted if spaces are available after all catchment pupils are allocated.
- Nursery attendance does not guarantee a primary place. Your child is only guaranteed a place if you live in the catchment area.
- Register even if deferring. You should still complete the P1 registration process if you plan to defer your child’s entry.
- Late applications have consequences. Applications received after deadlines may not be considered until after all on-time applications, potentially resulting in no place at preferred schools.
With proper planning and awareness of these critical deadlines, Edinburgh families can navigate the school application process confidently and secure the right educational placement for their children.
