Satisfaction with Schools

Satisfaction with schools – all adults

In 2023, 69% of adults were satisfied with local schools, the same as in 2022 (69%; Table 1). Satisfaction with schools has generally decreased over time since the peak of 85% in 2011 (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Satisfaction with schools has generally decreased over time since 2011

Satisfaction with the quality of local schools by year, Scotland, 2007/2008-2023

Satisfaction with schools varied by local authority (Table 1), with the lowest levels of satisfaction in 2023 in Dumfries & Galloway (54%), West Lothian (56%) and Aberdeen City (60%). The highest levels of satisfaction were in East Lothian (88%), Stirling (87%) and East Renfrewshire (84%). Satisfaction varied over time for each local authority.

In general, satisfaction with local schools was similar across urban and rural areas (Table 2) with the exception of other urban areas (72%) where satisfaction was higher than in large urban (67%) and remote rural areas (65%).

Satisfaction with local schools differed over Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles, increasing from 66% in the 20% most deprived areas to 75% in the 20% least deprived areas (Table 3).

Satisfaction with schools – services users

Service users of local schools are identified by whether there is a school child present in the household. In 2023, service users were more satisfied with local schools (80%) than the whole adult population (69%; Table 4). However satisfaction with schools for service users has decreased since 2022 (85%) and is the lowest it has been since the start of the time series in 2007/2008 (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Satisfaction with schools for service users is the lowest it has been since the start of the time series in 2007/2008

Satisfaction with the quality of local schools for service users by year, Scotland, 2007/2008-2023

Satisfaction with schools for service users varied by local authority (Table 4). Due to low sample sizes some of the local authority data has been suppressed. For local authorities where data is available, the lowest levels of service user satisfaction in 2023 were in Aberdeenshire (61%) and Aberdeen City (66%) with the highest levels of service user satisfaction in East Lothian (92%) and Fife (90%).