Secondary school places

 

There are currently 11 Secondary Schools in West Lothian.   Details of these can be found by clicking on the Schools List link under Online Tools on the right.

West Lothian is divided into catchment areas for primary and secondary schools.  Each school is either denominational (linked to a particular religion) or nondenominational (not linked to any particular religion). All the denominational schools in West Lothian are Roman Catholic.

Each home address has a catchment denominational school and a catchment non-denominational school, for both primary and secondary education. The catchment schools depend on home addresses. Although efforts are made to provide enough places for all children in the catchment area at the catchment school, living within a catchment area does not guarantee a child a place.

More information on catchment areas is available by clicking on the Schools List link under Online Tools on the right and opening the Catchment .pdf document relating to the school in question.

Further information on applications for placement in a school can be found in the Pupil Placement and Admissions - Secondary Policy - see 'Online Tools' on the right.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question to see the answer.

Can my child leave school to take up a job even though s/he is only 15?

Generally the answer is no. Only those born after June-September and January-February are likely to be eligible to leave school while still 15 years old.

What if I want my child to go to a secondary school that is not in my catchment area?

You will have to make a placing request and if there is space in that school it will be granted.

When can my child leave school?

Pupils can leave school on 31 May if their 16th birthday falls on or between 1 March and 30 September of the same year. Pupils can leave school on the first day of the Christmas holiday period if their 16th birthday falls on or between 1 October and the last day of February of the following year.