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Applying for a secondary school place

 

There are currently 11 secondary schools in West Lothian.   The authority is divided into catchment areas for primary and secondary schools.

Each school is either denominational (linked to a particular religion) or non-denominational (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.

Details of all the secondary schools can be obtained by clicking on the Online Tools link to Schools List on the right.  The catchment area of a school can be found by selecting the relevant school.

Information on enrolment procedures can be found in the Pupil Placement and Admission - Secondary Policy on the right.

Updated: 15/05/2013

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 happens if my application is refused?

If your pre-school application is refused, the Pupil Placement Section will grant your child a place at your second or third choice school if available, and if not they will write to you to tell the closest available places. If your P1 or S1 application for next session is refused the Pupil Placement Section will grant your second or third choice if possible, and if not they will allocate a place at a local school. If you apply for other stages or during the current school year and the school refuses your application, please contact the Pupil Placement Section and they will help you find a place for your child. If your primary or secondary application is refused, you have the right to an appeal. There are no appeals for pre-school or wraparound placements. Further information regarding Placing in Schools Appeals may be viewed using the link under Online Tools on the right.

What happens if there are too many applications for my preferred school?

If there are too many applications we would use the council's admission guidelines to decide which applications to grant. To find out more please click on the admissions policy on the right.

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.

When should I apply for my child's S1 place?

If you are applying for the next secondary one (S1) intake, you should fill in a form and send it to Pupil Placement no later than the 31st December before your child is due to start school. If you are applying for other stages of secondary school, you should give the form directly to your first choice school.

Online Tools

Contact details