east Scotland
East Lothian Schools
East Lothian is one of Scotland's fastest-growing council areas, with major housing developments around Musselburgh, Haddington and Dunbar. The council runs around 35 primaries and 6 secondaries. Population growth has put pressure on school capacity — several new primaries have opened in recent years, and catchment boundaries have been redrawn to reflect new housing. Check current catchments carefully if buying in a new-build area.
£130–£160
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
East Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in East Lothian
Every address in East Lothian 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 East Lothian
6 state secondaries. Data from Scottish Government open records.
| School | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dunbar Grammar School | Dunbar | Non-denom |
| Knox Academy | Haddington | Non-denom |
| Musselburgh Grammar School | Musselburgh | Non-denom |
| North Berwick High School | North Berwick | Non-denom |
| Preston Lodge High School | Prestonpans | Non-denom |
| Ross High School | Tranent | Non-denom |
The honest take on East Lothian schools
East Lothian is one of Scotland's fastest-growing council areas, with major housing developments around Musselburgh, Haddington and Dunbar. The council runs around 35 primaries and 6 secondaries. Population growth has put pressure on school capacity — several new primaries have opened in recent years, and catchment boundaries have been redrawn to reflect new housing. Check current catchments carefully if buying in a new-build area. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the East Lothian website.
Primary
£130
Secondary
£160
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at East LothianUniversal 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 East Lothian£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 East Lothian
East Lothian 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 East Lothian schools
How do I find my catchment school in East Lothian?
East Lothian doesn't have a central online school finder. Contact the council's education department directly with your address to confirm your catchment primary and secondary schools. Placing requests for a non-catchment school must be submitted by 15 March.
How much is the school clothing grant in East Lothian?
East Lothian pays £130 per primary pupil and £160 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the East Lothian 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 East Lothian?
East Lothian 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 East Lothian 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 East Lothian. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.