Capacity challenges in Scotland’s schools
According to the Scottish Government’s School Estates Statistics, the overall pupil roll in Scotland increased by 4% from around 668,000 in 2014 to just over 696,000 in 2023. Secondary school rolls have surged by 10% over the same period, while primary school rolls have remained stable. However, the overall school capacity has only grown by 2% during this time. Currently, the pupil-to-capacity ratio for all schools in Scotland stands at 77%. Secondary schools are particularly strained, with an 84% occupancy rate, whereas primaries are slightly less pressured at 73%.
Analysing the data from 2,337 schools in Scotland, our research shows a substantial drop in the number of primary schools that are operating at 90% and above capacity over the last decade. However, the number of secondary schools also in this predicament has increased dramatically by 74%, from 77 in September 2014 to 134 in the latest September 2023 pupil roll stats. That’s a staggering 37% of all secondary schools in Scotland.