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, 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.
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£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
29 publicly funded secondaries, from the Scottish Government school contact list dated 31 January 2026.
| School | Area | Type | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alness Academy | Alness | Non-denom | IV17 0UY |
| Ardnamurchan High SchoolGaelic stream | Acharcle | Non-denom | PH36 4JA |
| Charleston Academy | Inverness | Non-denom | IV3 8ET |
| Culloden Academy | Inverness | Non-denom | IV2 7JZ |
| Dingwall AcademyGaelic stream | Non-denom | IV15 9LT | |
| Dornoch Academy | Sutherland | Non-denom | IV25 3HR |
| Farr High School | By Thurso | Non-denom | KW14 7SS |
| Fortrose Academy | Ross-Shire | Non-denom | IV10 8TW |
| Gairloch High SchoolGaelic stream | Gairloch | Non-denom | IV21 2BP |
| Glen Urquhart High SchoolGaelic stream | Drumnadrochit | Non-denom | IV63 6XA |
| Golspie High School | Golspie | Non-denom | KW10 6RF |
| Grantown Grammar School | Grantown-on-Spey | Non-denom | PH26 3HU |
| Invergordon Academy | Invergordon | Non-denom | IV18 0LD |
| Inverness High School | Inverness | Non-denom | IV3 5DZ |
| Inverness Royal AcademyGaelic stream | Inverness | Non-denom | IV2 6RE |
| Kilchuimen Academy | Inverness-Shire | Non-denom | PH32 4DL |
| Kingussie High SchoolGaelic stream | Kingussie | Non-denom | PH21 1ES |
| Kinlochbervie High School | Kinlochbervie | Non-denom | IV27 4RG |
| Kinlochleven High School | Argyll | Non-denom | PH50 4QG |
| Lochaber High SchoolGaelic stream | Fort William | Non-denom | PH33 7ND |
| Mallaig High SchoolGaelic stream | Non-denom | PH41 4RG | |
| Millburn Academy | Inverness | Non-denom | IV2 3QR |
| Nairn AcademyGaelic stream | Nairn | Non-denom | IV12 4RD |
| Plockton High SchoolGaelic stream | Ross-shire | Non-denom | IV52 8TU |
| Portree High SchoolGaelic stream | Isle Of Skye | Non-denom | IV51 9ET |
| Tain Royal AcademyGaelic stream | Tain | Non-denom | IV19 1PS |
| Thurso High SchoolGaelic stream | Thurso | Non-denom | KW14 7DS |
| Ullapool High SchoolGaelic stream | Ullapool | Non-denom | IV26 2UN |
| Wick High School | Wick | Non-denom | KW1 5LT |
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, 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 £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 Highland£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 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.