We rely on primary schools to guide the young children in their care through some of their most important milestones.
These schools will oversee much of their pupils’ early social, emotional, and intellectual growth - and what children learn there will serve as the foundation for the rest of their educational journey. That is why it’s so important that parents choose a school that works for their child, and their family.
Each part of Scotland, from Edinburgh to the Orkney Islands, has its own collection of primary schools, including some which shine particularly bright. But how do Scotland’s different regions stack up when it comes to which has the best schools, those that are getting the most children across the goal line in learning essential school skills?
Using Scottish education statistics, Scotland’s Data on a Map publishes annual league tables for council areas across the country, rating how well the country’s state primary schools have performed each year. Schools are ranked using ACEL (or Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels) data. This shows the percentage of pupils across a range of different year groups who have achieved the expected levels in important school skills; literacy, numeracy, and speaking and listening.
Using the most recent data currently available (currently the 2022/23 school year until this year’s data has been finalised) we’ve ranked each of Scotland’s local authority areas based on the percentage of their state-funded schools to be placed in ‘Band 1’ - the highest available, reserved for those with more than 80% of their pupils hitting the mark.
We have also included the top-performing schools in each part of the country, those with the very highest percentage of children in their care meeting key targets for each age group. It is worth noting, however, that some primary schools - mostly those with very small class sizes - have been excluded from the data.
Here’s how each of the regions did:
25. Highland
Of all primary schools with published performance data in the Highland Council area, 34% made it into ‘Band 1’, representing 25 great local schools. Its top performers were: Munlochy Primary School (92.5%), and Auldearn Primary School, Broadford Primary School and Tarradale Primary School, all 90%. | (Munlochy Primary School/Google)
26. Moray
Of all primary schools with published performance data in the Moray area, 33% made it into ‘Band 1’, representing 11 high-achieving local schools. Moray’s top performers were: Bishopmill Primary School (95%), Alves Primary School (92.5%), Burghead Primary School and Mortlach Primary School (both 90%). | (Mortlach Primary School/Google)
27. North Ayrshire
Of all North Ayrshire primary schools with published performance data, 33% made it into the top band. This represents 14 local schools. Its top performers were: Lamlash Primary School (92.5%), Annick Primary School and Skelmorlie Primary School (both 90%). | (Annick Primary School/Google)
28. East Ayrshire
Of all East Ayrshire primary schools with published performance data, 31% made it into the top band. This represents 11 local schools. Its highest-performing schools were: Dunlop Primary School (92.5%), Ochiltree Primary School (92.5%) and Nether Robertland Primary School (87.5%). | Google