Scotland has 268 fewer schools open now than when the SNP came into government, according to “startling” official figures.
Analysis of data by the Scottish Conservatives reveals that since the nationalists came into office, 384 schools have been closed and a further 59 mothballed.
In that same period, 174 have opened, one of which subsequently shut, while two schools have each split into two. This means there has been a net loss of 268 schools since 2007.
The figures are “just another example of the SNP’s dismal failure in education” according to Miles Briggs, the Scottish Conservatives’ shadow education secretary.
Shadow cabinet secretary for education and skills Miles Briggs said: “The startling reduction in the number of schools since the SNP government came into office proves that, far from being a priority, education provision has declined on their watch.
“The fact that so many schools have closed their doors during their time in government is just another example of the SNP’s dismal failure in education.
“It follows the nationalists’ withdrawal of Scottish schools from international comparison tables, the revelation that our pupils now lag behind those in England on key measures, the broken promise to eradicate the poverty-related attainment gap and a rising tide of classroom violence.
“The high proportion of school closures and mothballing in rural areas shows that, as usual, they are hit hardest by SNP failure. But this problem affects schools right across the country, where teachers, pupils and parents have all been hit by longstanding failures and SNP government cuts to council funding.
“While the SNP have focused on divisive and distracting policies, they have allowed schools to decline and even disappear. There is now an urgent need for common sense policies that will provide support for schools, staff and students and enable our education system to recover from the damage inflicted by the SNP government.”
Notes to editors
Under the SNP, Scotland has seen a net loss of over 250 schools. Between the start of the SNP government and 31 October 2024, 384 schools have closed, 59 have been mothballed, while 174 have opened (with 1 later closing) and 2 have split—resulting in a net reduction of 268 schools. (School Contract List, 31 October 2024, link).
Almost a third of closed schools are in rural areas. Between the start of the SNP government and 31 October 2024, 120 schools in rural local authorities closed, accounting for 31.3% of all school closures in Scotland. (School Contract List, 31 October 2024, link; Understanding the rural economy, 23 February 2018, link).
A majority of mothballed schools are in rural areas. Between the start of the SNP government and 31 October 2024, 51 schools in rural local authorities have been mothballed, accounting for 86% of all mothballed schools in Scotland. (School Contract List, 31 October 2024, link; Understanding the rural economy, 23 February 2018, link).