Check your place on the school waiting list

If you have been refused a place in the school of your choice, your child’s name will be added to the waiting list for that school. You can contact the school to find out where your child is on the waiting list.

Waiting lists are organised in the same order as applications for school places- Priority 1, 2, 3, 4. The priority system will determine where an applicant is on the list. This of course means that for Priority 2, 3, 4 applications may go down as well as up the list. For example, if a child who lives in the school zone enters the waiting list they will be higher up than you if you applied because your child’s sibling goes to the school. This is the case regardless of when you applied.

Schools cannot refuse a placing request without a good reason and these are set out on Scottish Government's website.

When can a council refuse a place in a school?

In our experience, almost all school placing requests are refused because there is no space available at the year group you have requested. Aberdeen City Council strictly adhere to the guidance as set out on the Scottish Government's website and this guidance provides lots of useful information for parents/carers too.

Questions about how we manage waiting lists

How do I get to the top of the waiting list?

Our waiting lists are organised in the same order as applications for school places. We use our priority system to decide where you are on the list. This means that your application may go down as well as up the list. For example, if a child who lives in the school zone enters the waiting list they will be higher up than you if you applied because your child’s sibling goes to the school. This is the case regardless of when you applied.

Can I be on more than one waiting list?

Yes, schools will keep the names of those who have been refused a place on their waiting list. Your child’s name will remain on the waiting list until you advise us you wish for it to be removed or your child’s age means he /she has moved on to the next stage of their education.

How long do you keep waiting lists for?

If you are refused a place at the school of your choice your child’s details will remain on the waiting list for that school. Your child’s name will remain on the waiting list until your child is too old to attend that school or until you ask for it to be removed.