School places

We deal with school enrolments and requests for places at local schools. Children in Scotland usually start school between the ages of 4 years 6 months and 5 years 6 months old. All children who are 4 years old at the start of the school year can defer and start primary one the following year.

Catchment areas

All of our schools cover areas known as catchment areas. You can apply to any school but children living in the catchment area get priority when allocating places.

We can't guarantee that places will still be available at your child's catchment school if you make a request for a non-catchment school and aren't successful.

School admission (enrolment) policy

Our policy covers the admission of pupils to our primary and secondary schools.

Enrolling for Primary 1

Primary Enrolment

Parents are asked to attend their catchment school to request a place at either their catchment school or to request a place at a non-catchment school for their child(ren). Parents are required to bring along proof of address and the child's date of birth, between Monday 29 January 2024 and Friday 2 February 2024. 

Secondary Enrolment

Parents are asked to contact their current primary school to accept a place at their catchment secondary school or to request a place at a non-catchment secondary school for their child(ren), between Monday 29 January 2024 and Friday 2 February 2024.

Application Form 

Enrolling at a Temporarily Closed (Mothballed) School

The term mothballing refers to the temporary closure of a school where the school roll has fallen to very low pupil numbers, and in some cases zero.

For children living within the catchment of a mothballed school, the appropriate enrolment form should be completed. If you wish your child to attend the catchment school which is currently mothballed, please complete a Catchment School Application form and return to the temporarily realigned catchment school (detailed in the table below). Non-catchment children should complete a Non-Catchment School Application form (above) and return to your catchment school.

Following the Primary 1 enrolment process the status of mothballed schools will be reassessed. If the school is due to remain mothballed, contact will be made with parents to discuss alternative options. There is no guarantee that mothballed schools will be reopened, nor can it be guaranteed that currently mothballed school won't return to mothballed status in the future.

Mothballed School

Temporarily Realigned Catchment School  

Ae Primary School

Nethermill Primary School

Borgue Primary School

Twynholm Primary School

Carsphairn Primary School 

Dalry Primary School

Hottsbridge Primary School

Eaglesfield Primary School

Hutton Primary School

Applegarth Primary School

Kirkbean Primary School

New Abbey Primary School

St Ninian's RC Primary School

St Joseph's RC Primary School

Tundergarth Primary School

St Mungo Primary School

Transferring schools / moving home

Children moving schools (or into the area) should contact their local school directly. The school will be able to provide forms and deal with the request.

Moving to secondary school

Pupils normally transfer to the secondary school associated with their home address between the ages of 11 and 12. Your child's school will provide further information on the process when the time comes to transfer.

Appeals

You can challenge a decision within 28 days of receiving a letter of refusal from us. Full details will be provided within the response.

Contact Us

Email: EducationSupportHub@dumgal.gov.uk

Page last updated: 02/07/2024
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