Shetland Islands

27 schools · 20 primary · 1 secondary

Browse all schools by town →Official council website ↗

Schools

2,645

Pupils

263

Teachers (FTE)

Open jobs

Shetland Islands is one of Scotland's 33 local authorities (councils), responsible for 27 state schools — 20 primary, 1 secondary, educating around 2,645 pupils with 263 full-time-equivalent teachers. In 2024-25, Shetland Islands spent around £12,405 per primary pupil and £14,294 per secondary pupil — above the Scotland averages of £7,606 and £9,338. In 2024-25, 94.5% of school leavers went on to a positive destination (below the Scotland average of 95.7%), and 29.8% left with five or more Highers (Scotland average 40.8%). Schools in Shetland 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 Shetland Islands

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

£12,405

per primary pupil

▲ 63%vs Scotland (£7,606)

£14,294

per secondary pupil

▲ 53%vs Scotland (£9,338)

£17,133

per pre-school place

▲ 42%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 Shetland Islands

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

94.5%

Positive destinations

▼ 1.2 ptsvs Scotland (95.7%)

72.3%

5+ at National 5

▲ 3.7 ptsvs Scotland (68.6%)

29.8%

5+ Highers

▼ 11 ptsvs Scotland (40.8%)

70.5%

Primary literacy

▼ 4 ptsvs Scotland (74.5%)

76.8%

Primary numeracy

▼ 3.5 ptsvs Scotland (80.3%)

91.5%

Attendance rate

▲ 0.5 ptsvs Scotland (91%)

81.3%

Parents satisfied

▲ 12.3 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.