By Bill Heaney
Scottish Labour has pledged to make Scotland’s schools “world class again”, as it emerged that nearly 200 school facilities in Scotland are in ‘poor’ or ‘bad’ condition.
The figures were highlighted in a Scottish Government report providing statistics on the country’s school estate for 2025.
According to official statistics, there are currently 189 schools in Scotland that are in a ‘poor’ condition, while a further six are considered to be in a ‘bad’ condition.
Scottish Labour education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP, right, said: “Young people are Scotland’s greatest asset, and we owe it to them to build an education system that allows them to reach their full potential.
“While there has been progress in improving the school estate, it is still unacceptable that nearly 200 school facilities across Scotland are not in an adequate condition for young people to learn.
“These figures demonstrate that there can be no room for complacency when it comes to investing in Scotland’s education system, ensuring that children have the best start in life.
“A Scottish Labour government will make Scotland’s schools world-class once again – from properly supporting teachers, to providing the resources pupils need to thrive.”
In 2025, 195 schools were ranked as being in either ‘poor’ or ‘bad’ condition.
- A ‘Poor’ rating is defined as “showing major defects and/or not operating adequately”.
- A ‘Bad’ rating is defined as “economic life expired and/or risk of failure”.
- The number of schools rated as being in good condition declined from 644 in 2024 to 581 in 2025.
- 52,556 pupils are in schools that are in bad or poor condition.