Exclusive:'Deeply alarming' rise in pupils taught in 'unsuitable' school buildings

An increased number of Scots pupils are being taught in unsuitable school buildings, new figures show.

Nearly 300 schools are now rated as “poor” or “bad” suitability for being fit to deliver the education curriculum.

The rise has been dubbed “deeply alarming” as an additional three schools were ranked at the worst level.

Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman, Meghan Gallacher MSP said: “These figures are deeply alarming.

“Far too many pupils and teachers in Scotland are working in schools that are simply not fit for purpose.

“Councils have been squeezed to breaking point by the SNP government and hundreds of schools are not fit for the modern age.”

Figures released by the Scottish Government show some 275 - 11.3 per cent - of schools were rates as having ‘poor’ suitability and 14 were rated ‘bad’ in 2026.

The School Estate Statistics 2026 showed both figures increased compared with the previous year.

Of Scotland’s 2,437 schools, 1,135 schools were rated ‘satisfactory’, 56 fewer than the previous year.

The 275 schools rated ‘poor’ is an increase of 23 while the ‘bad’ rating rose by three more than the previous year.

Both the suitability of schools and the condition of schools is set out in the data.

Education Secretary Mairi McAllan pointed to the highest number of pupils since records began are attending schools in good or satisfactory condition.

Figures show that the proportion of schools in good or satisfactory condition increased to 93.1 per cent in 2026, up from last year's 92 per cent.

Ms McAllan said: “This government is always driving improvement, therefore we will continue working with partners to give our children the education, standards and support they deserve. “Particularly through the Learning Estate Improvement Programme, a £2 billion joint initiative in partnership with local authorities to rebuild and improve school buildings.”

School suitability is a measure of whether a school is fit for delivering the education curriculum and looks at the design and layout of a building.

It also considers whether there is enough space to accommodate pre-school, school, and after-school activities and services, and whether the building is inclusive and accessible.

Government documents say, “It also assesses the school's capacity to be adapted to changing needs, including changes in pupil numbers and patterns of use, advances in technology, changes in how education is delivered, and the impacts of climate change.”

The Scotsman has recently told how parents in Eyemouth have been fighting for a new primary school for 11 years.

Their school is rated ‘poor’ with complaints from families about both the suitability of the school building and its condition.

Councillors recently voted to advance plans for a new build primary school at the site of the existing building after a campaign by parents.

Ms Gallacher added: “John Swinney cannot keep washing his hands of the consequences of his own spending decisions.

“After years of underfunding councils, the SNP has left local authorities without the resources to fix crumbling schools, with over one in 10 in Scotland now considered poor, and children are paying a heavy price for those cuts."