Aberdeenshire

161 schools · 140 primary · 17 secondary

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161

Schools

35,737

Pupils

2,563

Teachers (FTE)

Open jobs

Aberdeenshire is one of Scotland's 33 local authorities (councils), responsible for 161 state schools — 140 primary, 17 secondary and 4 special, educating around 35,737 pupils with 2,563 full-time-equivalent teachers. In 2024-25, Aberdeenshire spent around £7,132 per primary pupil and £9,479 per secondary pupil — below the Scotland averages of £7,606 and £9,338. In 2024-25, 94.7% of school leavers went on to a positive destination (below the Scotland average of 95.7%), and 37.6% left with five or more Highers (Scotland average 40.8%). Schools in Aberdeenshire are inspected by Education Scotland on a six-point scale. Browse every school by town, view pupil and staffing data, or compare schools side by side.

Education spending in Aberdeenshire

Gross council expenditure per pupil/place, shown against the Scotland average (2024-25).

£7,132

per primary pupil

▼ 6%vs Scotland (£7,606)

£9,479

per secondary pupil

▲ 2%vs Scotland (£9,338)

£11,940

per pre-school place

▼ 1%vs Scotland (£12,055)

Source: Local Government Benchmarking Framework (Improvement Service), 2024-25, under the Open Government Licence. A higher figure is typical of rural and island councils, where smaller schools cost more per pupil to run — it does not by itself mean better-resourced classrooms.

School outcomes in Aberdeenshire

How this council's schools compare to the Scotland average (2024-25). Higher is better.

94.7%

Positive destinations

▼ 1 ptsvs Scotland (95.7%)

66.7%

5+ at National 5

▼ 1.9 ptsvs Scotland (68.6%)

37.6%

5+ Highers

▼ 3.2 ptsvs Scotland (40.8%)

70.6%

Primary literacy

▼ 3.9 ptsvs Scotland (74.5%)

79.4%

Primary numeracy

▼ 0.9 ptsvs Scotland (80.3%)

92.8%

Attendance rate

▲ 1.8 ptsvs Scotland (91%)

69.7%

Parents satisfied

▲ 0.7 ptsvs Scotland (69%)

Source: Local Government Benchmarking Framework (Improvement Service), 2024-25, under the Open Government Licence. Outcomes are council-wide averages and reflect each school's intake and catchment, not just its teaching.