central Scotland
Stirling Schools
Stirling council covers the city itself plus a large rural area stretching north towards the Trossachs. The council runs around 35 primaries and 7 secondaries. Stirling High School and Wallace High School serve the city, while rural schools like McLaren High in Callander serve the wider area. The city is a popular family location — well-connected to both Edinburgh and Glasgow by rail, with lower housing costs than either.
£120–£150
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
Central Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in Stirling
Every address in Stirling 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 Stirling
7 state secondaries. Data from Scottish Government open records.
| School | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Balfron High School | Balfron | Non-denom |
| Bannockburn High School | Bannockburn | Non-denom |
| Dunblane High School | Dunblane | Non-denom |
| McLaren High School | Callander | Non-denom |
| St Modan's High School | Stirling | RC |
| Stirling High School | Stirling | Non-denom |
| Wallace High School | Stirling | Non-denom |
The honest take on Stirling schools
Stirling council covers the city itself plus a large rural area stretching north towards the Trossachs. The council runs around 35 primaries and 7 secondaries. Stirling High School and Wallace High School serve the city, while rural schools like McLaren High in Callander serve the wider area. The city is a popular family location — well-connected to both Edinburgh and Glasgow by rail, with lower housing costs than either. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the Stirling website.
Primary
£120
Secondary
£150
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at StirlingUniversal 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 Stirling£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 Stirling
Stirling 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 Stirling schools
How do I find my catchment school in Stirling?
Stirling 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 Stirling?
Stirling 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 Stirling 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 Stirling?
Stirling 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 Stirling 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 Stirling. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.