west Scotland
Glasgow City Schools
Glasgow is Scotland's largest council area by population, with around 140 primaries. The city has the widest diversity of any Scottish education authority and significant variation in attainment between affluent and deprived areas. Popular secondaries like Jordanhill, Hyndland and Hillhead are heavily oversubscribed. Glasgow pioneered universal free school meals expansion and has one of the highest clothing grant uptake rates in Scotland.
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£120–£150
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
West Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in Glasgow City
Every address in Glasgow 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 Glasgow City
31 publicly funded secondaries, from the Scottish Government school contact list dated 31 January 2026.
The honest take on Glasgow City schools
Glasgow is Scotland's largest council area by population, with around 140 primaries. The city has the widest diversity of any Scottish education authority and significant variation in attainment between affluent and deprived areas. Popular secondaries like Jordanhill, Hyndland and Hillhead are heavily oversubscribed. Glasgow pioneered universal free school meals expansion and has one of the highest clothing grant uptake rates in Scotland. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the Glasgow City website.
Primary
£120
Secondary
£150
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at Glasgow CityUniversal 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 Glasgow City£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 Glasgow City
Glasgow 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 Glasgow City schools
How do I find my catchment school in Glasgow City?
Glasgow 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 Glasgow City?
Glasgow City pays £120 per primary pupil and £150 per secondary pupil per school year (this is the Scottish Government statutory minimum — the council may pay more but we haven't confirmed a higher figure for this year). Apply through the Glasgow 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 Glasgow City?
Glasgow 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 Glasgow 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 Glasgow City. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.