School Places

At Sciennes, there are 21 classes and a pupil population of 630. We have three classes per stage in P1-P7. Maximum class size is 25 in P1, 30 in P2 and P3 with 33 in P4-P7. Sciennes became aligned to St Leonard’s Nursery in August 2021.

The City of Edinburgh is divided into catchment areas. Every household in Edinburgh has a catchment area associated with it, where you would be given priority admission (with the exception of Gaelic education provision).

Please note that your nearest school may not be your catchment school. [Check the catchment maps links below.] Typically, each year we have a waiting list for places at Sciennes where catchment children then non catchment children with siblings already at Sciennes will take priority.

CLASS ORGANISATION FAQs

P1 Enrolment for Aug 2023

If your child’s date of birth is between 1 March 2018 and 29 February 2019 they are due to start primary school in August 2023.

The P1 Open Day is on WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 9.30am-11.30am and 1.30-3.00pm

New P1 Parents/Carers will have received their P1 Enrolment letter.

Between 1st November and 19th November, parents/carers should go to the link below then to the P1 Enrolment section and enrol their child in their chosen catchment school.

(Please note that this link will be live from 1st November.)

Start primary school – The City of Edinburgh Council

PLEASE NOTE: This year, Council Tax liability will be checked centrally so parents no longer require to provide their Council Tax bill

  • Parents/carers should still upload photos/scans of birth certificate

If parents are not liable for Council Tax, you can upload photos/scans of two proofs of address  i.e. a utility bill such as gas, electricity, landline telephone or broadband, dated within last six months

  • Non catchment applications can be made separately via the council’s website and must be submitted by 24 December.
  • In line with new School Admissions guidance, please note that catchment guarantee date is now also 24 December (no longer end of February) for P1 and S1.
Placing-in-SchoolsDownload

Maps of City of Edinburgh school catchments:

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/catchmentmaps

Adobe_PDF_file_icon_32x32 Sciennes_Catchment Map

Advice on School Places from City of Edinburgh Council:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/school-places/apply-school-place

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20256/school_places

Local Catchment Open Day for New P1s

Sciennes will hold the annual City of Edinburgh ‘Catchment Primary School Open Day’ on Wednesday October 30th 2019 for our new intake of Primary One pupils in August 2020

P1 Transition

The Induction Days for the new Primary One pupils due to start school in August are held in June. Details of times and classes will be sent out to the new pupils.

Enrolling at Other Stages

In the first instance, parents of pupils who have moved into the catchment area or who wish their child to transfer to the school, should make contact with the School Office directly (preferably in writing) to enquire if there is a space for their child in the relevant year group.

P7 to S1 Transition

We work closely with James Gillespie’s High School (JGHS) throughout the year to support an effective transition to S1.

Enhanced S1 Transition

In order to lessen anxieties and improve children’s confidence in making the transition, James Gillespie High School’s Support for Learning (SfL) Department has developed a comprehensive Enhanced Transition programme.