Primary school admissions
Will your child be five years old between 1 March 2026 and 28 February 2027?
If you would like them to start primary school in August 2026, register online from Monday 12 January to Friday 16 January 2026.
How to register
To complete your online school enrolment or Primary 1 registration, you must have a Customer Account.
You will need to upload:
- a copy of your child's full birth certificate
- two proofs of address within the catchment area, for example, Council Tax notice and utility bill dated within the last three months
If you need a copy of your child’s birth certificate, you can order one at Certificates.Scot.
You must register your child for only one school, either the denominational or non-denominational school in your catchment area.
If you cannot register online, please contact your local school for assistance.
School Enrolment Form
View contact details of all East Ayrshire primary schools
Secondary school admissions
Your child's primary school will send you details during their final year in December, on when to complete their online P7 to S1 transfer forms.
Information will then be sent to the chosen secondary school who will arrange transition dates.
Please note that if you choose a school outside your catchment area, free school transport will not be provided.
Primary 7 Transfer to Secondary Form
View contact details of all East Ayrshire secondary schools
Placing requests
Occasionally parents or carers may wish to send their children to a school which is not in their school catchment area.
School catchment search
Enter your postcode to find out your school catchment areas:
Interactive Catchment Lookup
If you want your child to attend a school outside your catchment area, you can submit a placing request to the education authority. Your child must first be enrolled at their local catchment school.
Primary and secondary school placing requests for the August 2026 school session must be received by 31 January 2026.
Decisions will be issued no later than the end of April 2026.
Please note that if you choose a school outside your catchment area, free school transport will not be provided.
School Placing Request Form
Placing request appeals
If your placing request is refused by the Director of Education and Skills, you can appeal in writing within 28 days of receiving the decision.
An Appeals Panel, arranged by the Appeals Committee, will hear your case.
The panel includes:
- one elected member
- two parent council representatives
- a legal officer who will attend to provide advice to the panel
The panel will decide whether to uphold or reject your appeal.
If you are still unhappy with the decision, you can make a final appeal to the Sheriff Court within 28 days of being told the panel's decision.
Find out more about education appeals
Gaelic medium education
Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland's heritage, national identity and culture.
We are committed to the objectives set out in the National Gaelic Language Plan and have put in place the necessary structures and initiatives to help ensure Gaelic has a sustainable future in Scotland.
We recognise that the position of Gaelic is extremely fragile and, if Gaelic is to be revitalised as a living language in Scotland, a joint effort on the part of government, the public and private sectors, community organisations and individual speakers is required to:
- enhance the status of Gaelic
- promote the acquisition and learning of Gaelic
- encourage greater use of Gaelic
Find out more about Gaelic medium education in East Ayrshire