Placing in Schools
How will my child(ren) be placed in a Perth and Kinross school?
Each school has a defined zone known as a catchment area. Pupils resident within a school's catchment area are entitled to a place within that school.
Parents have a right to make a request that their child be placed in a school of their choice other than the school which normally serves the area in which they reside. Parents' wishes will be met where possible. If the number of places in any particular school is limited, priority for admissions shall be determined on the following basis:
Priority 1
Children normally resident within the catchment area of the specified school.
NB
Within denominational schools places will be allocated first to children who have been baptised in the Roman Catholic Church.
Priority 2
Children not normally resident within the catchment area of the specified school, but having a brother or sister (or relative permanently living at the same address as part of an extended family)* in attendance at that school.
Priority 3
Children not normally resident within the catchment area of the specified school and having no brothers or sisters in attendance at that school.
*provided that the member of the extended family for whom the placing request has been made has lived within that extended family for a period of at least two years.
When it is necessary to refuse only some places within any one of the above three categories, priorities will be determined by siblings and distance from the specified school, with priority being given to children whose normal place of residence is closest to the specified school.
NB
The denominational criteria in Priority 1 would still result in the single criterion of distance being operated.
Placement may be recommended within a special school or provision when a child's additional support needs cannot be met in their catchment school. This will be based upon the assessment of the child's educational needs by their parents, teacher, school medical officer and educational psychologist.
Placing requests will normally be granted except where there are circumstances defined in the Act which justify the Authority's refusal of such a request.
Parents who have made successful placing requests for their children at other schools of their choice have to make their own transport arrangements and meet the costs thereof.
Any pupil who attends a primary school other than the one proposed by the Authority (ie as the result of a placing request) and who is due to transfer to a secondary school will be offered a place at the secondary school in whose catchment area he/she lives.
How can I find out more information?
Placing Request application forms [pdf 324KB]and booklets [64KB] may be downloaded from the internet, obtained from the Headteacher of the school or:
Education & Children's Services
Pullar House
35 Kinnoull Street
Perth PH1 5GD
Tel No 01738 476200
Email: ecsschools
