west Scotland
East Renfrewshire Schools
East Renfrewshire has the highest school attainment of any Scottish council area. Williamwood High, Mearns Castle High and Barrhead High consistently perform well above the national average. The council runs around 24 primaries and 6 secondaries covering Newton Mearns, Giffnock, Clarkston and Barrhead. Demand is high — families move into the area specifically for school catchments, and placing requests from outside are rarely successful at the most popular schools.
£120–£150
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
West Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in East Renfrewshire
Every address in East Renfrewshire 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 Renfrewshire
6 state secondaries. Data from Scottish Government open records.
| School | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Barrhead High School | Barrhead | Non-denom |
| Eastwood High School | Newton Mearns | Non-denom |
| Mearns Castle High School | Newton Mearns | Non-denom |
| St Luke's High School | Barrhead | RC |
| St Ninian's High School | Giffnock | RC |
| Williamwood High School | Clarkston | Non-denom |
The honest take on East Renfrewshire schools
East Renfrewshire has the highest school attainment of any Scottish council area. Williamwood High, Mearns Castle High and Barrhead High consistently perform well above the national average. The council runs around 24 primaries and 6 secondaries covering Newton Mearns, Giffnock, Clarkston and Barrhead. Demand is high — families move into the area specifically for school catchments, and placing requests from outside are rarely successful at the most popular schools. 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 Renfrewshire website.
Primary
£120
Secondary
£150
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at East RenfrewshireUniversal 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 Renfrewshire£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 Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire 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 Renfrewshire schools
How do I find my catchment school in East Renfrewshire?
East Renfrewshire 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 East Renfrewshire?
East Renfrewshire pays £120 per primary pupil and £150 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the East Renfrewshire 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 Renfrewshire?
East Renfrewshire 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 Renfrewshire 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 Renfrewshire. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.