The Orkney Islands has retained its title as the best place in the UK to live for bringing up children.
The annual children’s quality of life survey from Halifax said Orkney had held on to the crown since 2015, based on low primary school class size, high school spending per pupil, low population density and traffic levels.
Children in Orkney are also likely to be surrounded by adults in employment and with high personal wellbeing, Halifax said.
The Shetland Islands came second, while the Western Isles was fourth, the Highlands eighth, and Argyll and Bute ranked in 23rd place.
But Orkney Islands Council leader, James Stockan, said the survey simply “crunches numbers” and only paints half the story of what life is like for young people in the islands.
He added: “Some of the things they don’t actually ask are some of the things that make the place even better for people to live. A close knit community that cares, and the youngest people get involved in whole community events in smaller places which maybe doesn’t happen so much elsewhere.
“Also, I think because adults don’t commute for so long here means parents have much more quality time with their children. Having said that, access to other things can be more difficult (in Orkney).
“But I am always much happier to have Orkney viewed as a good place for young folk than for older people. It’s a really healthy place for young folk to grow up.”
Russell Galley, managing director of Halifax, said: “Measuring the best quality of life for children covers a range of factors including class size, spending per pupil and academic results.
“Kids in the top-ranked places will often be surrounded by a greater proportion of adults in full-time employment who also consider themselves to be happy.”
Halifax used Office for National Statistics figures to make its findings.
1. Orkney Islands, Scotland
2. Shetland Islands, Scotland
3. Craven, Yorkshire and the Humber
4. Western Isles, Scotland
5. Hart, South East
6. South Lakeland, North West
7. North Warwickshire, West Midlands
8. Highland, Scotland
9. Waverley, South East
10. Richmondshire, Yorkshire and the Humber