Orkney Islands

22 schools · 17 primary · 2 secondary

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. 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.