Education

Education in Shetland

Pre-school and schools

In 2023 there were:

  • 24 Local Authority nurseries, 23 of which were based in schools
  • 24 schools with primary departments only
  • 6 schools with primary and secondary departments
  • 1 school with a secondary department only
  • 353 nursery pupils
  • 1,758 primary pupils
  • 1,476 secondary pupils
  • 325 full time equivalent nursery and school teaching staff

Further education

Shetland has one college, Shetland UHI, which was founded in August 2021, from the merger of the North Atlantic Fisheries College, Shetland College and Train Shetland.  The new college is a partner of the University of Highlands and Islands.  

UHI Shetland statistics 2022/23:

  • 1,884 students enrolled, 97% of which were enrolled in part time courses
  • 78.5% of full time and 97.8% of part time students completed or partially completed their course
  • 29 permanent full-time teaching staff

Modern Apprenticeships

During 2022/23 there were 155 new start modern apprentices in Shetland, and 357 apprentices in training as at 31st March 2023.  

Of those who left the Modern Apprenticeship programme in 2022/23, 81.1% achieved their apprenticeship.  This is higher than the Scottish average achievement rate of 72.7%.