Non-catchment schools

  • Every house in Midlothian is in a catchment area.
  • You have the right to request a place for your child in a school outwith your catchment area. This is called a placing request.
  • We will try to accommodate your wishes but it may not be possible.
  • We will inform you of the outcome by the end of April 2025.

Apply for a non-catchment school

  1. Before making a request, read our Placing in Schools booklet (PDF).
  2. If your child attends primary school you must register them at their catchment school.
  3. Make a placing request.

Primary

Apply for non-catchment primary school

Secondary

Apply for non-catchment secondary school

Cancelling your request

If you want to withdraw your request contact the Pupil Placement Team by 15 March 2025.

After this date, the main round of placing decisions will take place and this may mean that a space will not be available at your child’s catchment school, and your child may be placed at an alternative school.

If your child already attends school

Contact the school in writing to request a space.

Moving house

If you move house once your child has started school they can stay at the same school. We don’t withdraw school places after a child has started school, but you will be responsible for transporting your child(ren) to and from school.  You should note that when moving to S1 your child will be reserved a place at the catchment high school for your new address, this may not be the same school as their friends will attend.

Siblings

All requests for a place at a non-catchment school should be made using our placing request form. Whether we are able to grant a placing request depends on the circumstances of the school requested.   Please see the Placing in Schools booklet for more information: Pupil registration and placing requests | Placing in schools booklet