West Lothian

87 schools · 68 primary · 13 secondary · 3 open teaching jobs

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Schools

27,576

Pupils

1,999

Teachers (FTE)

Open jobs

West Lothian is one of Scotland's 33 local authorities (councils), responsible for 87 state schools — 68 primary, 13 secondary and 6 special, educating around 27,576 pupils with 1,999 full-time-equivalent teachers. In 2024-25, West Lothian spent around £7,857 per primary pupil and £8,866 per secondary pupil — above the Scotland averages of £7,606 and £9,338. In 2024-25, 95.6% of school leavers went on to a positive destination (below the Scotland average of 95.7%), and 55.1% left with five or more Highers (Scotland average 40.8%). Schools in West Lothian are inspected by Education Scotland on a six-point scale. There are currently 3 open teaching jobs across West Lothian. Browse every school by town, view pupil and staffing data, or compare schools side by side.

Education spending in West Lothian

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

£7,857

per primary pupil

▲ 3%vs Scotland (£7,606)

£8,866

per secondary pupil

▼ 5%vs Scotland (£9,338)

£9,653

per pre-school place

▼ 20%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 West Lothian

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

95.6%

Positive destinations

▼ 0.1 ptsvs Scotland (95.7%)

80.6%

5+ at National 5

▲ 12 ptsvs Scotland (68.6%)

55.1%

5+ Highers

▲ 14.3 ptsvs Scotland (40.8%)

79.1%

Primary literacy

▲ 4.6 ptsvs Scotland (74.5%)

84.6%

Primary numeracy

▲ 4.3 ptsvs Scotland (80.3%)

90.6%

Attendance rate

▼ 0.4 ptsvs Scotland (91%)

66%

Parents satisfied

▼ 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.