Update: Replacement of Beeslack Community High School & Catchment Realignments
We, the council, remain fully committed to delivering a state-of-the-art replacement Beeslack Community High School (CHS) at Easter Bush.
Centre of Excellence
This new campus will serve as a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) Centre of Excellence, offering enhanced learning environments, modern facilities, and dedicated provision for pupils with additional support needs as we understand the significance of this project for parent/carers, learners and the wider community.
Contractors appointed
We continue to work closely with its already appointed contractors to ensure the programme is delivered within the approved budget and aligned with our strategic goals for education in Midlothian.
Catchment changes – what this means for families
From August 2026:
- Loanhead and Paradykes Primary School catchment areas will be realigned to the Beeslack Community High School catchment
- Mauricewood Primary School catchment area (including the former Glencorse Primary School catchment area) will be realigned to the Penicuik High School catchment
Transitional arrangements for August 2026
As the replacement Beeslack Community High School will not open until after August 2026, children living in the Loanhead and Paradykes Primary School catchment areas who are due to begin S1 in August 2026 will be offered a choice of attending either:
- Beeslack Community High School (current site), or
- Lasswade High School
Please note that if a family chooses Lasswade High School, the pupil will forfeit their automatic place at Beeslack Community High School. Any future request to transfer to the school would need to be made via a placing request.
P7 parents and carers
The Pupil Placement Team will write to P7 parent/carers in November 2025. The letter for Loanhead and Paradykes parent/carers will advise how to notify the Pupil Placement team of their preferred secondary school. A follow-up letter will be issued in early January to confirm their choice. Schools will be informed to ensure pupils have access to the appropriate transition events.
From August 2027 onwards
- All pupils entering S1 from Loanhead and Paradykes catchment areas will attend Beeslack Community High School
- All pupils entering S1 from Mauricewood and the former Glencorse catchment areas will attend Penicuik High School
- Sibling transition arrangements will continue to apply, allowing families to choose for younger siblings to attend the same school as their older siblings
- No child will have to move from the school they are attending if that is not their choice or their parent/carers choice
Placing requests
Placing requests remain available under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
Progress updates will continue to be shared through a variety of channels, including council reports, school communications, and official announcements, to ensure transparency and accessibility throughout the project. An additional update on progress will be issued in the New Year.