The number of Scottish school buildings rated as being in “good” condition - the top rating - has fallen by nearly a fifth since 2021.
National data shows a steady decrease to 581 in 2025 since a peak of 716 in 2021, a fall of 18.9 per cent.
This means that, in 2025, 24 per cent of state school buildings in Scotland have the highest rating of “good”, which is defined as “performing well and operating efficiently”.
In 2021, 29 per cent of schools received the top rating.
Most schools in ‘satisfactory’ state
However, the Scottish government prefers to highlight the combined number of school buildings rated “good” or “satisfactory”, with the latter - meaning “performing adequately but showing minor deterioration” - being by far the most common rating each year.
The government says that a record number of pupils are now in “good” or “satisfactory” school buildings: 2,251 out of 2,446 schools (92.5 per cent) fall into one of these two categories, up from 62.7 per cent in 2007, the year the SNP came to power.
There are four possible ratings in all.
Some 189 school buildings are rated “poor” (“showing major defects and/or not operating adequately”); this represents 7.7 per cent of all schools, down from 9.7 per cent in 2021.
Six school buildings were given the worst rating of “bad”, defined as “economic life expired and/or risk of failure”. In 2021, there was only one “bad” school building.
Estate improvements will ‘contribute to net zero’
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “These statistics show our ongoing and significant investment in the school estate continues to deliver.”
She added: “Through the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme investment, a further three school projects are expected to be completed this year, and we will continue working with [local authorities’ body] Cosla, councils and the Scottish Futures Trust to maximise future improvements in the school estate.”
Currie Community High School in Edinburgh is one of Scotland’s first secondaries built on the Passivhaus standard, which prioritises ultra-low energy use.
Headteacher Jenny Hutchison said that “the design incorporates natural daylight, creating an inspiring and healthy atmosphere”, adding: “We love the level of visibility in the building where learning can be observed from many angles.”
Cosla children and young people spokesperson Tony Buchanan said the school estate was improving in a way that will “contribute to the transition towards net zero”.
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