What did Education Scotland judge The Nicolson Institute's quality indicator to be?

Education Scotland judged The Nicolson Institute's quality indicator as Satisfactory (3 of 6) at its inspection in October 2023, on Education Scotland's own scale.

How many pupils attend The Nicolson Institute?

The Nicolson Institute has 1,059 pupils on roll.

Where is The Nicolson Institute located?

The Nicolson Institute is located in HS1 2PZ, Na h-Eileanan Siar.

How do I apply to The Nicolson Institute?

In Scotland you enrol your child at the catchment school for your home address, and each council sets its own enrolment dates. If The Nicolson Institute is not your catchment school, you can make a placing request to Na h-Eileanan Siar Council to ask for a place there. By law, a placing request for a child starting P1 or S1 that reaches the council by 15 March must be answered by 30 April; check the council's admissions pages for its own dates.

How are S1 places decided at The Nicolson Institute?

When The Nicolson Institute has more applications than places for 2026-27, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Resident in the catchment area — A placing request for a mainstream school will only be granted after places have been given to children living in the catchment area. Parents enrolling their child for first entry into Primary and Secondary must complete a School Enrolment Form before applying for a Placing Request.

What is the largest ethnic background at The Nicolson Institute?

According to the Scottish Government Pupil Census 2025-26, 90.7% of pupils at The Nicolson Institute are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

The Nicolson Institute: Catchment 2026

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How places are decided at The Nicolson Institute

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (S1), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Resident in the catchment area — A placing request for a mainstream school will only be granted after places have been given to children living in the catchment area. Parents enrolling their child for first entry into Primary and Secondary must complete a School Enrolment Form before applying for a Placing Request.

Gaelic First Policy: the default enrolment for all children is into Gaelic Medium Education (GME); a parent who does not wish this must request English Medium Education on the enrolment form. A voluntary placing request forfeits entitlement to school transport. Pupils remain at their current school until physically enrolled at the receiving school.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

The Nicolson Institute: key facts

What did Education Scotland judge The Nicolson Institute's quality indicator to be?: Education Scotland judged The Nicolson Institute's quality indicator as Satisfactory (3 of 6) at its inspection in October 2023, on Education Scotland's own scale.
How many pupils attend The Nicolson Institute?: The Nicolson Institute has 1,059 pupils on roll.
Where is The Nicolson Institute located?: The Nicolson Institute is located in HS1 2PZ, Na h-Eileanan Siar.
How do I apply to The Nicolson Institute?: In Scotland you enrol your child at the catchment school for your home address, and each council sets its own enrolment dates. If The Nicolson Institute is not your catchment school, you can make a placing request to Na h-Eileanan Siar Council to ask for a place there. By law, a placing request for a child starting P1 or S1 that reaches the council by 15 March must be answered by 30 April; check the council's admissions pages for its own dates.
How are S1 places decided at The Nicolson Institute?: When The Nicolson Institute has more applications than places for 2026-27, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Resident in the catchment area — A placing request for a mainstream school will only be granted after places have been given to children living in the catchment area. Parents enrolling their child for first entry into Primary and Secondary must complete a School Enrolment Form before applying for a Placing Request.
What is the largest ethnic background at The Nicolson Institute?: According to the Scottish Government Pupil Census 2025-26, 90.7% of pupils at The Nicolson Institute are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How places are decided at The Nicolson Institute

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (S1), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Resident in the catchment area — A placing request for a mainstream school will only be granted after places have been given to children living in the catchment area. Parents enrolling their child for first entry into Primary and Secondary must complete a School Enrolment Form before applying for a Placing Request.

The Nicolson Institute: key facts

What did Education Scotland judge The Nicolson Institute's quality indicator to be?: Education Scotland judged The Nicolson Institute's quality indicator as Satisfactory (3 of 6) at its inspection in October 2023, on Education Scotland's own scale.
How many pupils attend The Nicolson Institute?: The Nicolson Institute has 1,059 pupils on roll.
Where is The Nicolson Institute located?: The Nicolson Institute is located in HS1 2PZ, Na h-Eileanan Siar.
How do I apply to The Nicolson Institute?: In Scotland you enrol your child at the catchment school for your home address, and each council sets its own enrolment dates. If The Nicolson Institute is not your catchment school, you can make a placing request to Na h-Eileanan Siar Council to ask for a place there. By law, a placing request for a child starting P1 or S1 that reaches the council by 15 March must be answered by 30 April; check the council's admissions pages for its own dates.
How are S1 places decided at The Nicolson Institute?: When The Nicolson Institute has more applications than places for 2026-27, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Resident in the catchment area — A placing request for a mainstream school will only be granted after places have been given to children living in the catchment area. Parents enrolling their child for first entry into Primary and Secondary must complete a School Enrolment Form before applying for a Placing Request.
What is the largest ethnic background at The Nicolson Institute?: According to the Scottish Government Pupil Census 2025-26, 90.7% of pupils at The Nicolson Institute are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Other inspected schools in the same area.

The Nicolson Institute

How places are decided at The Nicolson Institute

The Nicolson Institute: key facts

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The Nicolson Institute

How places are decided at The Nicolson Institute

The Nicolson Institute: key facts

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