north Scotland
Highland Schools
Highland is the largest council area in Scotland by land mass — bigger than Belgium — covering everything from Inverness to Caithness, Skye and Lochaber. The council runs around 170 primaries and 29 secondaries, many of them very small and remote. Some pupils in the west Highlands travel over an hour each way by bus. Gaelic-medium education is available in several schools. Despite the challenges of distance, Highland schools benefit from strong community ties and outdoor learning opportunities.
£140–£150
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
North Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in Highland
Every address in Highland 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 Highland
27 state secondaries. Data from Scottish Government open records.
| School | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Alness Academy | Alness | Non-denom |
| Charleston Academy | Inverness | Non-denom |
| Culloden Academy | Culloden | Non-denom |
| Dingwall Academy | Dingwall | Non-denom |
| Dornoch Academy | Dornoch | Non-denom |
| Farr High School | Bettyhill | Non-denom |
| Fortrose Academy | Fortrose | Non-denom |
| Gairloch High School | Gairloch | Non-denom |
| Glen Urquhart High School | Drumnadrochit | Non-denom |
| Golspie High School | Golspie | Non-denom |
| Grantown Grammar School | Grantown-on-Spey | Non-denom |
| Invergordon Academy | Invergordon | Non-denom |
| Inverness High School | Inverness | Non-denom |
| Inverness Royal Academy | Inverness | Non-denom |
| Kilchuimen Academy | Fort Augustus | Non-denom |
| Kingussie High School | Kingussie | Non-denom |
| Kinlochleven High School | Kinlochleven | Non-denom |
| Lochaber High School | Fort William | Non-denom |
| Mallaig High School | Mallaig | Non-denom |
| Millburn Academy | Inverness | Non-denom |
| Nairn Academy | Nairn | Non-denom |
| Plockton High School | Plockton | Non-denom |
| Portree High School | Portree, Skye | Non-denom |
| Tain Royal Academy | Tain | Non-denom |
| Thurso High School | Thurso | Non-denom |
| Ullapool High School | Ullapool | Non-denom |
| Wick High School | Wick | Non-denom |
The honest take on Highland schools
Highland is the largest council area in Scotland by land mass — bigger than Belgium — covering everything from Inverness to Caithness, Skye and Lochaber. The council runs around 170 primaries and 29 secondaries, many of them very small and remote. Some pupils in the west Highlands travel over an hour each way by bus. Gaelic-medium education is available in several schools. Despite the challenges of distance, Highland schools benefit from strong community ties and outdoor learning opportunities. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the Highland website.
Primary
£140
Secondary
£150
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at HighlandUniversal 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 Highland£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 Highland
Highland 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 Highland schools
How do I find my catchment school in Highland?
Highland 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 Highland?
Highland pays £140 per primary pupil and £150 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the Highland 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 Highland?
Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.