South Ayrshire

51 schools · 40 primary · 9 secondary · 2 open teaching jobs

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Schools

13,746

Pupils

1,084

Teachers (FTE)

Open jobs

South Ayrshire is one of Scotland's 33 local authorities (councils), responsible for 51 state schools — 40 primary, 9 secondary and 2 special, educating around 13,746 pupils with 1,084 full-time-equivalent teachers. In 2024-25, South Ayrshire spent around £8,020 per primary pupil and £9,470 per secondary pupil — above the Scotland averages of £7,606 and £9,338. In 2024-25, 97.3% of school leavers went on to a positive destination (above the Scotland average of 95.7%), and 37.8% left with five or more Highers (Scotland average 40.8%). Schools in South Ayrshire are inspected by Education Scotland on a six-point scale. There are currently 2 open teaching jobs across South Ayrshire. Browse every school by town, view pupil and staffing data, or compare schools side by side.

Education spending in South Ayrshire

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

£8,020

per primary pupil

▲ 5%vs Scotland (£7,606)

£9,470

per secondary pupil

▲ 1%vs Scotland (£9,338)

£11,805

per pre-school place

▼ 2%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 South Ayrshire

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

97.3%

Positive destinations

▲ 1.6 ptsvs Scotland (95.7%)

66.9%

5+ at National 5

▼ 1.7 ptsvs Scotland (68.6%)

37.8%

5+ Highers

▼ 3 ptsvs Scotland (40.8%)

79.1%

Primary literacy

▲ 4.6 ptsvs Scotland (74.5%)

84.9%

Primary numeracy

▲ 4.6 ptsvs Scotland (80.3%)

91.2%

Attendance rate

▲ 0.2 ptsvs Scotland (91%)

74.3%

Parents satisfied

▲ 5.3 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.