Orkney Islands

22 schools · 17 primary · 2 secondary · 7 open teaching jobs

Browse all schools by town →Official council website ↗

Schools

2,614

Pupils

228

Teachers (FTE)

Open jobs

Orkney Islands is one of Scotland's 33 local authorities (councils), responsible for 22 state schools — 17 primary, 2 secondary, educating around 2,614 pupils with 228 full-time-equivalent teachers. In 2024-25, Orkney Islands spent around £12,194 per primary pupil and £15,253 per secondary pupil — above the Scotland averages of £7,606 and £9,338. In 2024-25, 93.6% of school leavers went on to a positive destination (below the Scotland average of 95.7%), and 30.6% left with five or more Highers (Scotland average 40.8%). Schools in Orkney Islands are inspected by Education Scotland on a six-point scale. There are currently 7 open teaching jobs across Orkney Islands. Browse every school by town, view pupil and staffing data, or compare schools side by side.

Education spending in Orkney Islands

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

£12,194

per primary pupil

▲ 60%vs Scotland (£7,606)

£15,253

per secondary pupil

▲ 63%vs Scotland (£9,338)

£14,254

per pre-school place

▲ 18%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 Orkney Islands

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

93.6%

Positive destinations

▼ 2.1 ptsvs Scotland (95.7%)

74%

5+ at National 5

▲ 5.4 ptsvs Scotland (68.6%)

30.6%

5+ Highers

▼ 10.2 ptsvs Scotland (40.8%)

81.2%

Primary literacy

▲ 6.7 ptsvs Scotland (74.5%)

87%

Primary numeracy

▲ 6.7 ptsvs Scotland (80.3%)

91.9%

Attendance rate

▲ 0.9 ptsvs Scotland (91%)

82%

Parents satisfied

▲ 13 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.