north Scotland
Aberdeenshire Schools
Aberdeenshire is one of Scotland's largest council areas by geography, stretching from the Cairngorms to the coast. It has over 150 primary schools — many small rural schools with fewer than 50 pupils — alongside its secondary academies. School transport is a major consideration for rural families; the council provides free transport for pupils living beyond the walking distance threshold.
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£120–£150
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
North Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in Aberdeenshire
Every address in Aberdeenshire 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 Aberdeenshire
17 publicly funded secondaries, from the Scottish Government school contact list dated 31 January 2026.
| School | Area | Type | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aboyne Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB34 5JN |
| Alford Academy | Alford | Non-denom | AB33 8TY |
| Banchory Academy | Kincardineshire | Non-denom | AB31 5UJ |
| Banff Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB45 1BY |
| Ellon Academy | Ellon | Non-denom | AB41 8LF |
| Fraserburgh Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB43 9NA |
| Inverurie Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB51 3QZ |
| Kemnay Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB51 5FW |
| Mackie Academy | Kincardineshire | Non-denom | AB39 3DF |
| Mearns Academy | Kincardineshire | Non-denom | AB30 1ZJ |
| Meldrum Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB51 0NT |
| Mintlaw Academy | Peterhead Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB42 5FN |
| Peterhead Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB42 1SY |
| Portlethen Academy | Aberdeen | Non-denom | AB12 4QL |
| The Gordon Schools | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB54 4SE |
| Turriff Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB53 4EE |
| Westhill Academy | Aberdeenshire | Non-denom | AB32 6XZ |
The honest take on Aberdeenshire schools
Aberdeenshire is one of Scotland's largest council areas by geography, stretching from the Cairngorms to the coast. It has over 150 primary schools — many small rural schools with fewer than 50 pupils — alongside its secondary academies. School transport is a major consideration for rural families; the council provides free transport for pupils living beyond the walking distance threshold. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the Aberdeenshire website.
Primary
£120
Secondary
£150
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at AberdeenshireUniversal for P1–P5 — no application needed. From P6 onwards, means-tested on qualifying benefits (Universal Credit with earnings under £995/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 Aberdeenshire£30/week
For 16–19 year olds in S5, S6 or college from households with income below £24,421 (one child) or £26,884 (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 Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire 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 Aberdeenshire schools
How do I find my catchment school in Aberdeenshire?
Aberdeenshire 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 Aberdeenshire?
Aberdeenshire pays £120 per primary pupil and £150 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the Aberdeenshire 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 Aberdeenshire?
Aberdeenshire 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 Aberdeenshire 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 Aberdeenshire. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.