west Scotland
South Lanarkshire Schools
South Lanarkshire stretches from the Glasgow suburbs of East Kilbride and Hamilton to the rural upper Clyde valley around Biggar and Lanark. The council runs around 120 primaries — one of the largest education authorities in Scotland. Clothing grants are among the most generous in the country. East Kilbride's schools are particularly popular with families relocating from Glasgow.
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£150–£170
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
West Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in South Lanarkshire
Every address in South Lanarkshire 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 South Lanarkshire
17 publicly funded secondaries, from the Scottish Government school contact list dated 31 January 2026.
| School | Area | Type | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggar High School | Biggar | Non-denom | ML12 6AG |
| Calderglen High SchoolGaelic stream | East Kilbride | Non-denom | G74 2LP |
| Calderside Academy | Blanytre | Non-denom | G72 0AX |
| Carluke High School | Carluke | Non-denom | ML8 4EA |
| Cathkin High School | Cambuslang | Non-denom | G72 8ES |
| Duncanrig Secondary School | East Kilbride | Non-denom | G75 8ZT |
| Hamilton Grammar School | Hamilton | Non-denom | ML3 6PE |
| Holy Cross High School | Hamilton | RC | ML3 0BN |
| Lanark Grammar School | Lanark | Non-denom | ML11 9AJ |
| Larkhall Academy | Larkhall | Non-denom | ML9 1QN |
| Lesmahagow High School | Lesmahagow | Non-denom | ML11 0FS |
| St Andrew's and St Bride's High School | East Kilbride | RC | G74 1NL |
| St John Ogilvie High School | Hamilton | RC | ML3 9LA |
| Stonelaw High School | Rutherglen | Non-denom | G73 3BP |
| Strathaven Academy | Strathaven | Non-denom | ML10 6DP |
| Trinity High School | Rutherglen | RC | G73 3LW |
| Uddingston Grammar School | Uddingston | Non-denom | G71 7BT |
The honest take on South Lanarkshire schools
South Lanarkshire stretches from the Glasgow suburbs of East Kilbride and Hamilton to the rural upper Clyde valley around Biggar and Lanark. The council runs around 120 primaries — one of the largest education authorities in Scotland. Clothing grants are among the most generous in the country. East Kilbride's schools are particularly popular with families relocating from Glasgow. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the South Lanarkshire website.
Primary
£150
Secondary
£170
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at South LanarkshireUniversal 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 South Lanarkshire£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 South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire 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 South Lanarkshire schools
How do I find my catchment school in South Lanarkshire?
South Lanarkshire 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 South Lanarkshire?
South Lanarkshire pays £150 per primary pupil and £170 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the South Lanarkshire 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 South Lanarkshire?
South Lanarkshire 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 South Lanarkshire 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 South Lanarkshire. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.