central Scotland
West Lothian Schools
West Lothian is one of Scotland's fastest-growing council areas, with major housing developments around Livingston, Bathgate and Winchburgh. The council runs around 65 primaries. Rapid population growth has led to new school openings and catchment boundary changes — check current catchments if moving to a new-build estate. West Lothian offers among the most generous clothing grants in central Scotland.
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£150–£180
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
Central Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in West Lothian
Every address in West Lothian 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 West Lothian
13 publicly funded secondaries, from the Scottish Government school contact list dated 31 January 2026.
| School | Area | Type | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armadale Academy | West Lothian | Non-denom | EH48 3LY |
| Bathgate Academy | West Lothian | Non-denom | EH48 1LF |
| Broxburn Academy | West Lothian | Non-denom | EH52 6AG |
| Deans Community High School | Livingston | Non-denom | EH54 8PS |
| Inveralmond Community High School | Livingston | Non-denom | EH54 6HW |
| Linlithgow Academy | West Lothian | Non-denom | EH49 6EH |
| Sinclair Academy | Winchburgh | RC | EH52 6FY |
| St Kentigern's Academy | West Lothian | RC | EH47 7LX |
| St Margaret's Academy | Livingston | RC | EH54 6AT |
| The James Young High School | Livingston | Non-denom | EH54 6NE |
| West Calder High School | West Calder | Non-denom | EH55 8BF |
| Whitburn Academy | West Lothian | Non-denom | EH47 0HL |
| Winchburgh Academy | Winchburgh | Non-denom | EH52 6FY |
The honest take on West Lothian schools
West Lothian is one of Scotland's fastest-growing council areas, with major housing developments around Livingston, Bathgate and Winchburgh. The council runs around 65 primaries. Rapid population growth has led to new school openings and catchment boundary changes — check current catchments if moving to a new-build estate. West Lothian offers among the most generous clothing grants in central Scotland. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the West Lothian website.
Primary
£150
Secondary
£180
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at West LothianUniversal 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 West Lothian£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 West Lothian
West Lothian 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 West Lothian schools
How do I find my catchment school in West Lothian?
West Lothian 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 West Lothian?
West Lothian pays £150 per primary pupil and £180 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the West Lothian 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 West Lothian?
West Lothian 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 West Lothian 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 West Lothian. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.