east Scotland
Fife Schools
Fife is Scotland's third-largest council by population, with around 140 primaries stretching from the Forth bridges to St Andrews. The area is diverse — the southern commuter belt around Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy has high demand for places, while the north-east Fife coast is more rural. Fife schools follow a slightly different holiday pattern from Edinburgh and Lothians councils despite proximity.
Free download
Get the free Scottish Education Cheat Sheet
Year groups, qualifications, key dates, benefit rates and university finance — the whole system on one printable page. Enter your email and we’ll send it over.
£130–£160
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
East Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in Fife
Every address in Fife 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 Fife
18 publicly funded secondaries, from the Scottish Government school contact list dated 31 January 2026.
| School | Area | Type | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auchmuty High School | Glenrothes | Non-denom | KY7 5JL |
| Balwearie High School | Kirkcaldy | Non-denom | KY2 5LY |
| Beath High School | Cowdenbeath | Non-denom | KY4 9BH |
| Bell Baxter High School | Cupar | Non-denom | KY15 4HY |
| Dunfermline High School | Dunfermline | Non-denom | KY11 3BQ |
| Glenrothes High School | Glenrothes | Non-denom | KY6 1HJ |
| Glenwood High School | Glenrothes | Non-denom | KY6 1JX |
| Inverkeithing High School | Inverkeithing | Non-denom | KY11 1PL |
| Kirkcaldy High School | Kirkcaldy | Non-denom | KY1 3LR |
| Levenmouth Academy | Fife | Non-denom | KY8 1HL |
| Lochgelly High School | Lochgelly | Non-denom | KY5 8LZ |
| Madras College | St Andrews | Non-denom | KY16 9BY |
| Queen Anne High School | Dunfermline | Non-denom | KY12 0PQ |
| St Andrew's R C High School | Kirkcaldy | RC | KY1 3JL |
| St Columba's R C High School | Dunfermline | RC | KY11 4UN |
| Viewforth High School | Kirkcaldy Fife | Non-denom | KY1 3AL |
| Waid Academy | Anstruther | Non-denom | KY10 3HD |
| Woodmill High School | Dunfermline | Non-denom | KY11 4ER |
The honest take on Fife schools
Fife is Scotland's third-largest council by population, with around 140 primaries stretching from the Forth bridges to St Andrews. The area is diverse — the southern commuter belt around Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy has high demand for places, while the north-east Fife coast is more rural. Fife schools follow a slightly different holiday pattern from Edinburgh and Lothians councils despite proximity. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the Fife website.
Primary
£130
Secondary
£160
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at FifeUniversal 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 Fife£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 Fife
Fife 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 Fife schools
How do I find my catchment school in Fife?
Fife 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 Fife?
Fife pays £130 per primary pupil and £160 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the Fife 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 Fife?
Fife 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 Fife 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 Fife. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.