Education and further learning on Orkney

Orkney Islands Council (OIC) has a strong commitment to education and teacher/pupil ratios are amongst the lowest in Scotland.

Academic standards are above the national average and a holistic approach to children's education is encouraged.

All schools are very well resourced and are maintained to a very high standard.

Comprehensive support for children with special educational needs is available and further information is available from OIC's Education Department.

Orkney has two six year secondary schools, one in each of the main towns, four junior high schools, seventeen primary schools and one school for special needs, which is located in Kirkwall.

Further and Higher education are provided by Orkney College in its purpose-built, modern premises in Kirkwall. Orkney College is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. The college provides a wide range of vocational and academic courses including degree level courses and is home to specialist archaeology, agronomy, nordic studies and geophyics units.

Orkney has amongst the highest proportion of school leavers going onto to higher and further education in Scotland. Teachers are provided with a variety of staff development opportunities both in Orkney and in mainland Scotland.

The authority has, for example, a comprehensive CPD (continuous professional development) programme to support the use of ICT in schools and 90% of teaching staff have signed up to the NOF ICT training. Every school has a dedicated video conferencing facility and ICT provision is above national requirements.

All school computer systems are networked and have links to a centrally managed ICT Centre providing a full range of Internet services. The education department and schools make extensive use of electronic communications to assist in administration and staff support.

 

• Orkney's schools

 

 

 

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Map of Orkney