west Scotland
North Ayrshire Schools
North Ayrshire stretches from Irvine and Kilwinning on the mainland to the Isle of Arran. The council runs around 45 primaries and 9 secondaries. Arran has its own high school (Arran High) serving the whole island. The council offers an online school finder for mainland catchment lookups. North Ayrshire has invested in new-build schools in Irvine and the Three Towns area.
£132–£164
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
West Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in North Ayrshire
Every address in North Ayrshire 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 North Ayrshire
9 state secondaries. Data from Scottish Government open records.
| School | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ardrossan Academy | Ardrossan | Non-denom |
| Arran High School | Lamlash | Non-denom |
| Auchenharvie Academy | Stevenston | Non-denom |
| Garnock Community Campus | Kilbirnie | Non-denom |
| Greenwood Academy | Irvine | Non-denom |
| Irvine Royal Academy | Irvine | Non-denom |
| Kilwinning Academy | Kilwinning | Non-denom |
| Largs Academy | Largs | Non-denom |
| St Matthew's Academy | Saltcoats | RC |
The honest take on North Ayrshire schools
North Ayrshire stretches from Irvine and Kilwinning on the mainland to the Isle of Arran. The council runs around 45 primaries and 9 secondaries. Arran has its own high school (Arran High) serving the whole island. The council offers an online school finder for mainland catchment lookups. North Ayrshire has invested in new-build schools in Irvine and the Three Towns area. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the North Ayrshire website.
Primary
£132
Secondary
£164
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at North AyrshireUniversal 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 North Ayrshire£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 North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire 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 North Ayrshire schools
How do I find my catchment school in North Ayrshire?
North Ayrshire 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 North Ayrshire?
North Ayrshire pays £132 per primary pupil and £164 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the North Ayrshire 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 North Ayrshire?
North Ayrshire 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 North Ayrshire 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 North Ayrshire. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.