09/05/2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
St David's RC High School Catchment and Admissions Consultation - Letter from St David’s HS parent council
Midlothian Council is running a statutory consultation, open until 4 June. The proposals directly affect St David’s RC High School. Full details are on the consultation web-page.
https://midlothiancouncil.citizenspace.com/education/denominational-admissions-policy-consulta/
The purpose of the catchment and admissions proposal is to formalise a new arrangement between Midlothian Council and East Lothian Council regarding admission of pupils from Loretto RC primary, replacing the previous informal arrangement that was inherited when Lothian Regional Council was dissolved in 1996.
Loretto RC primary pupils have gone to St David’s High School in big numbers since 1948 and Loretto is among the largest associated primary schools. The pupils play a big part in the St David’s High School community and have played a huge role in the school life over the years, contributing to the school’s education reputation and denominational status.
Three conditions have been set for the proposal to take effect:
it must not disadvantage Midlothian Catholic children,
it promotes the Roman Catholic ethos of St David’s RC High School,
education costs should be recovered from East Lothian Council for Loretto RC pupils.
This consultation follows on from the statutory consultation held in 2025 when the St David’s HS parent council successfully fought against the council proposal to remove Loretto RC as an associated primary school with council elected members voting in favour of the parent council position to maintain Loretto RC as a catchment school.
The parent council is in favour of maintaining Loretto RC as an associated primary school and will welcome an outcome that provides much needed clarity for parents as demand for school places grows. The arrangement represents an innovative model of cooperation between councils that balances pressure on school places while protecting catholic education provision.
We are asking you to please read the consultation material, complete the online survey, consider attending one of the public meetings and ensure St David’s RC High School is well represented in this important exercise.
The public meetings are at Woodburn Primary School (on the Dalkeith school campus) on 19 May 2026 at 18:30 and at Sacred Heart RC Primary School (Penicuik) on 1 June 2026 at 18:30.
Many thanks,
Ian Thom
SDHS Parent Council chairperson
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