north Scotland
Aberdeen City Schools
Aberdeen is Scotland's third-largest city with around 50 primary and 12 secondary schools. The oil and gas industry shapes the city's economy, and schools benefit from above-average funding. Catchment areas are well-defined and the council's online school finder is straightforward. Several secondaries — including Cults Academy and Aberdeen Grammar — are consistently among Scotland's top performers.
£120–£150
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
North Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in Aberdeen City
Every address in Aberdeen City has a designated catchment primary and secondary school. Your child has the right to attend their catchment school — the council must provide a place. For a different school, submit a placing request by 15 March.
Secondary schools in Aberdeen City
11 state secondaries. Data from Scottish Government open records.
| School | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Grammar School | City Centre | Non-denom |
| Bridge of Don Academy | Bridge of Don | Non-denom |
| Bucksburn Academy | Bucksburn | Non-denom |
| Cults Academy | Cults | Non-denom |
| Dyce Academy | Dyce | Non-denom |
| Harlaw Academy | West End | Non-denom |
| Hazlehead Academy | Hazlehead | Non-denom |
| Lochside Academy | Torry / Cove | Non-denom |
| Northfield Academy | Northfield | Non-denom |
| Oldmachar Academy | Bridge of Don | Non-denom |
| St Machar Academy | Old Aberdeen | Non-denom |
The honest take on Aberdeen City schools
Aberdeen is Scotland's third-largest city with around 50 primary and 12 secondary schools. The oil and gas industry shapes the city's economy, and schools benefit from above-average funding. Catchment areas are well-defined and the council's online school finder is straightforward. Several secondaries — including Cults Academy and Aberdeen Grammar — are consistently among Scotland's top performers. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the Aberdeen City website.
Primary
£120
Secondary
£150
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at Aberdeen CityUniversal for P1–P5 — no application needed. From P6 onwards, means-tested on qualifying benefits (Universal Credit with earnings under £796/mo, Income Support, etc.).
Even if your child gets universal free meals, apply for the means-tested version — it unlocks the clothing grant and other council support.
Apply at Aberdeen City£30/week
For 16–19 year olds in S5, S6 or college from households with income below £24,500 (one child) or £27,000 (two+). Paid fortnightly to the young person’s own bank account.
Apply for EMAFree transport to your catchment school if the walking distance exceeds:
Primary
2+ miles
Secondary
3+ miles
Additional Support Needs in Aberdeen City
Aberdeen City operates a presumption of mainstreaming — most pupils with ASN attend their local school with additional support. The council’s ASN team manages referrals, assessments, and Coordinated Support Plans. If you believe your child needs additional support, contact the school’s Support for Learning teacher as a first step.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions about Aberdeen City schools
How do I find my catchment school in Aberdeen City?
Aberdeen City provides an online school finder tool on their website where you enter your address or postcode to identify your catchment primary and secondary schools. Every Scottish address has a designated catchment school — if you want a different school, you need to submit a placing request by 15 March.
How much is the school clothing grant in Aberdeen City?
Aberdeen City pays £120 per primary pupil and £150 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the Aberdeen City website — most councils use a combined form for clothing grants and free school meals, so you can apply for both in one go.
What are the school holidays in Aberdeen City?
Aberdeen City sets its own school holiday calendar each academic year. Term dates, October break, Christmas, February, Easter and summer holidays all vary by council — they're not the same as England. See our dedicated Aberdeen City school holidays page for the full calendar with downloadable .ics files for Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook.
Last updated April 2026.
Clothing grant and free school meals data from Aberdeen City. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.