How full is your Aberdeenshire school? Kemnay Academy one of two over capacity

Search our table to find out how full your primary or secondary school is.

By Calum Petrie

September 14 2023, 6:00 am

Kemnay Academy is the most over capacity school in Aberdeenshire. Image: Colin Rennie/DC Thomson

Two Aberdeenshire schools have more pupils than the buildings are deemed suitable for.

And a further 24 are near their maximum roll.

Kemnay Academy has 982 pupils, despite capacity sitting at 730.

Alford Academy is also over capacity.

You can find out how full your Aberdeenshire school is by searching for it in our table below.

Alford Academy is at 100.6% capacity. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Others above 90% capacity in the latest statistics released by the Scottish Government are:

Aboyne Academy
Alford Primary School
Auchnagatt School
Banchory Academy
Clerkhill School
Crombie School
Foveran School
Hillside School
Insch School
Kellands School
Kennethmont School
Laurencekirk School
Logie Durno School
Mackie Academy
Marykirk School
Mearns Academy
Meldrum Academy
Mintlaw Academy
Portlethen Academy
Sandhaven School
St Fergus School
Strathburn School
Westhill Primary School
Whitehills School

The capacity of a school is based on the size of available teaching space, rather than the entire building.

Statistics released by the Scottish Government are based on a pupil census conducted in September 2022.

Several schools well below capacity

At the other end of the scale, many Aberdeenshire schools have far fewer pupils than they could.

Tyrie School has the lowest occupancy rate. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

Those which are less than half full are:

Arnage School – 35 pupils (46.7%)
Ballater School – 58 pupils (40%)
Barthol Chapel School – 23 pupils (46%)
Boddam School – 99 pupils (45.6%)
Bracoden School – 42 pupils (29%)
Burnhaven School – 37 pupils (37%)
Cairney School – 21 pupils (42%)
Chapel of Garioch School – 31 pupils (43.7%)
Crathie School – 11 pupils (23.4%)
Fintry School – 20 pupils (40%)
Finzean School – 34 pupils (47.9%)
Forgue School – 18 pupils (40%)
Fraserburgh North School – 96 pupils (44.2%)
Glass School – 16 pupils (34%)
Kincardine O’Neil School – 30 pupils (43.5%)
King Edward School – 18 pupils (38.3%)
Kinneff School – 12 pupils (24%)
Largue School – 13 pupils (26%)
Logie Coldstone School – 17 pupils (36.2%)
Lumsden School – 14 pupils (28%)
Luthermuir School – 35 pupils (35.4%)
Midmill School – 143 pupils (32.9%)
Port Elphinstone School – 77 pupils (49.7%)
Port Erroll School – 117 pupils (48.3%)
Portsoy School – 123 pupils (46.1%)
Slains School – 24 pupils (48%)
Strathdon School – 16 pupils (32%)
Tipperty School – 22 pupils (44%)
Tough School – 21 pupils (35%)
Tullynessle School – 10 pupils (40%)
Tyrie School – 15 pupils (21.1%)

Aberdeenshire Council responds

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “Our learning estates team carefully monitors and addresses school capacities and plans ahead to prevent overcrowding.

“The stats need to be considered in context – Kemnay Academy, for example, has a published capacity of 730 pupils, however it has a working capacity of 980 pupils due to additional non-linked accommodation.

“Numbers also change each year with Alford, for example, expected to return within its capacity in 2024.

“Where there are pinch points, our learning estates team works closely with schools to ensure they have ample space to deliver learning, utilising the buildings to their full potential.

“We set annual limits and reserved spaces and will not accept placing requests from those out of area when we need to limit numbers.”

Click the tab for your region to see the fullest schools where you are