south Scotland
Scottish Borders Schools
The Scottish Borders stretches from Peebles to Berwick, covering market towns like Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso and Selkirk. The council runs around 60 primaries and 9 secondaries. Schools tend to be smaller than in central-belt councils, with strong community links. The Borders Railway connects the northern part of the area to Edinburgh, and some families commute while keeping children in local schools.
£120–£150
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
South Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in Scottish Borders
Every address in Scottish Borders 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 Scottish Borders
9 state secondaries. Data from Scottish Government open records.
| School | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Berwickshire High School | Duns | Non-denom |
| Earlston High School | Earlston | Non-denom |
| Eyemouth High School | Eyemouth | Non-denom |
| Galashiels Academy | Galashiels | Non-denom |
| Hawick High School | Hawick | Non-denom |
| Jedburgh Grammar Campus | Jedburgh | Non-denom |
| Kelso High School | Kelso | Non-denom |
| Peebles High School | Peebles | Non-denom |
| Selkirk High School | Selkirk | Non-denom |
The honest take on Scottish Borders schools
The Scottish Borders stretches from Peebles to Berwick, covering market towns like Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso and Selkirk. The council runs around 60 primaries and 9 secondaries. Schools tend to be smaller than in central-belt councils, with strong community links. The Borders Railway connects the northern part of the area to Edinburgh, and some families commute while keeping children in local schools. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the Scottish Borders website.
Primary
£120
Secondary
£150
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at Scottish BordersUniversal 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 Scottish Borders£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 Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders 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 Scottish Borders schools
How do I find my catchment school in Scottish Borders?
Scottish Borders doesn't have a central online school finder. Contact the council's education department directly with your address to confirm your catchment primary and secondary schools. Placing requests for a non-catchment school must be submitted by 15 March.
How much is the school clothing grant in Scottish Borders?
Scottish Borders 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 Scottish Borders 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 Scottish Borders?
Scottish Borders 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 Scottish Borders 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 Scottish Borders. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.