Relocation/school places

[TheRealLadyJ]

Hello! My husband has been offered a job in Leith so we're looking into moving nearby in either east Lothian or Midlothian but we're not sure because of moving our children to new schools. Does anyone know if schools in these areas are oversubscribed? The trouble is we have one in P6, one in P3 and one starting P1 next year and we'll miss the November application date. So we're worried they'll end up in 3 different schools out of catchment.
We're looking at houses in Musselburgh and Dalkeith because we liked those areas when we visited but now stressing about schools. So if anyone has any info about how hard it is to get into a school midyear or missing the application deadline for P1 that would be most appreciated!

No one will be able to tell you for sure apart from the school. Most Edinburgh schools are quite full, but the higher years will usually have a space as the max class size increases from 25 at P1 to 33 in P4 (I can't remember the in-between numbers).

I think your biggest issue will probably be the P1 entry as those tend to go to max capacity. Especially in nicer schools as people will ask for out of catchment spaces. I can't remember when the out of catchment requests are approved, but I think it's around Feb/March so maybe if you can move before then you'll have a better chance to get in.

If not you can go on the waiting list and hope some people go private (everyone has to register for a place) and a space opens up.

In Edinburgh, it's Feb/March for the last applications for P1. So try not to stress. Depending on how many are registered they are sometimes able to keep 2 moving into catchment places.