Scotland’s education, explained.
Highers not A-Levels. SAAS not Student Finance. 32 councils, free tuition, and £26,088 in Scotland-only family payments per child. Clear answers for busy parents.
- 180+
- Free parent guides
- £0
- Tuition fees via SAAS
- 12
- Interactive tools
- 32
- Councils covered
Where do you need help?
Start here
Browse by topic
Find what you need
P1 to graduation — the Scotland-specific stuff, fast.
The Scottish School System
How Scottish education works — from nursery to S6
Exams & Qualifications
Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers, and what comes after
Scottish Universities
Free tuition, SAAS, choosing a uni, and student life
Family Benefits in Scotland
Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant, and more
Early Years & Childcare
Funded hours, nurseries, childminders, and childcare costs
Choosing a School
Catchment areas, placing requests, and school comparisons
Additional Support Needs
ASN rights, CSPs, and getting the right support
Moving to Scotland
Everything families need to know about the Scottish system
Explore the data
Look anything up
Subject choices, career routes, childcare and student cities — page by page, from the data.
Interactive tools
Calculators for Scotland
SAAS Calculator
Your exact bursary and loan entitlement based on household income.
Family Benefits
Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant — your total annual package.
UCAS Points
Highers and Advanced Highers into UCAS tariff points.
Catchment Checker
Postcode → catchment schools across all 32 councils.
Uni Comparison
Rankings, rent, costs, and satisfaction side by side.
Benefits Checker
Answer a few questions to find every benefit your family may qualify for.
Compare Councils
Grants, holiday dates and placing rules for any two councils, side by side.
Scotland vs England
£26,088 in Scotland-only family payments per child.
Scottish Child Payment birth to 16, the Best Start Grant’s three milestones and Best Start Foods to age three — every figure computed from a published rate. Free school meals P1–P5 and free tuition come on top.
Scottish Child Payment
£28.20/wk
per child under 16
Best Start Grant
£796.65
first child pregnancy
Best Start Foods
£44.80
every 4 weeks, under 1
Clothing Grant
£150+
varies by council
University Tuition
£0
SAAS pays it
Latest guides
Fresh from the team
Leaving School at 16 in Scotland: Your Leaving Date, the Rules and What Comes Next
Updated 26 September 2026
Moving to ScotlandMoving Between Councils in Scotland with School-Age Children: What Resets
Updated 24 September 2026
Exams & QualificationsNational 5 Maths: The Two Papers, the Grade Boundaries, and Where Marks Go
Updated 23 September 2026
Exams & QualificationsNational 5 Physics: The Paper, the Assignment, and Whether It Is Hard
Updated 23 September 2026
Exams & QualificationsDental Nurse Apprenticeship Scotland: SVQ, GDC Registration and Pay
Updated 23 September 2026
Exams & QualificationsElectrical Apprenticeship Scotland: SECTT, SJIB Pay and How to Apply
Updated 23 September 2026
Exams & QualificationsPharmacy Apprenticeship Scotland: Two Levels, GPhC and What It Pays
Updated 15 August 2026
Exams & QualificationsSocial Services Apprenticeship Scotland: SVQ Levels, SSSC and Pay
Updated 15 August 2026
Exams & QualificationsGas Engineer Apprenticeship Scotland: Routes, Pay and Gas Safe
Updated 10 August 2026
The School Bell
Weekly during term time. Deadlines, benefit changes, new guides. No spam.