Key Dates For P1 Registration and Out of Catchment School Request

Primary School Registration Edinburgh (P1)

Registration for Primary 1 opens November 1st in the year before entry the next August.

Use the online form at www. edinburgh.gov.uk/p1registration to register. You must choose a preferred catchment school which is a choice between a non-denominational or catholic school. You’ll need to provide evidence such as the child’s birth certificate (if they do not attend the school’s adjoining council nursery), proof of address (if not liable for Council Tax), and baptism certificate (if applying to a Catholic school).

Complete the registration process whether or not you intend to defer your child or attend the catchment school. If a child attends a council nursery or partner provider nursery, the parent or guardian will receive a letter in October outlining the procedure for starting school.

To find out more about your catchment school, visit the school website.

Council schools usually also hold an annual open day in early November each year (this year 5th November).

These are the dates your child should start school :

(See our blog on delaying P1 if you are considering deferring entry to P1)

Child born between Child will start school (P1)

1 Mar 2021 – 28 Feb 2022 August 2026

1 Mar 2022 – 28 Feb 2023 August 2027

1 Mar 2023 – 29 Feb 2024 August 2028

1 Mar 2024 – 28 Feb 2025 August 2029

1 Mar 2025 – 28 Feb 2026 August 2030

Edinburgh Out of Catchment School Request

If you’d prefer a primary or secondary school outside your catchment area, make a placing request online www. edinburgh.gov.uk/placingrequest

Applications open in November and close on December 24th.

Edinburgh Council makes its first decision in March the following year. Only one out-of-catchment school can be requested initially. It is recommended that you register at your catchment school even if you are intending to make a non-catchment placing request for an alternative school.

Places are granted only if space remains after catchment children are accommodated.

• Roman Catholic School Priorities: Catholic schools prioritise baptised Catholic, then children in their catchment area who have an older sibling at the school, then catchment area before non-catchment area children.

• Non-Denominational School Priorities: Catchment children come first.

Then waiting lists prioritise children with exceptional circumstances, siblings already attending the school, and those residing in Edinburgh. NB: If granted one non-catchment place in a school, this does not guarantee that further requests will be successful. This could result in your children attending different schools. Confirming Your Child’s Place

The council confirms school places (for August) by the end of March.

Good Luck.