Glossary

Capacity:

Capacity can be measured in two ways: working capacity and planning capacity. Definitions for each are provided below.

Local authority schools:

Schools that are funded and managed by local authorities. They make-up most of the publicly funded schools in Scotland and exclude grant-aided and independent schools.

Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP):

The LEIP is a joint £2bn investment programme between Scottish and Local Government.

Planning capacity:

Planning Capacity is a physical, theoretical measure of the total number of pupils which could be accommodated in a school, based on the total number of teaching spaces, the size of those spaces and the maximums for class sizes.

Primary schools:

Children in Scotland usually start primary school between 4 ½ and 5 ½ years old. There are seven stages from primary 1 (P1) to primary 7 (P7). There is no streaming of pupils by ability at primary school and pupils are automatically promoted from one class to the next each year.

Publicly funded schools:

Schools that receive public funding. In Scotland, this includes local authority schools and grant-aided schools, but excludes independent schools.

School condition:

This concerns the state of repair of features or facilities that exist as part of the school fabric and as part of its current design and includes the adequacy and appropriateness of the design, security of the school fabric, contents and occupants and general health and safety requirements.

School suitability:

is a measure of whether a school is fit for delivering the education curriculum. It considers whether the design and layout support the school's function, whether there is sufficient space to accommodate pre-school, school, and after-school activities and services, and whether the building is inclusive and accessible. It also assesses the school's capacity to be adapted to changing needs, including changes in pupil numbers and patterns of use, advances in technology, changes in how education is delivered, and the impacts of climate change.

Schools for the Future programme (SSF):

The Schools for the Future programme was a joint Scottish Government and local authority investment programme that funded the construction and major refurbishment of school buildings across Scotland between 2009 and 2021.

Secondary schools:

After primary school pupils attend secondary school for up to six years. There are six stages from secondary 1 (S1) to secondary 6 (S6). Qualifications are usually taken in S4 to S6, starting at age 15-16.

Special schools:

Most children with additional support needs are educated in mainstream schools but some with complex or specific needs are educated in special schools. Special schools cover primary and secondary education.

Virtual schools:

Virtual schools provide education by using the internet and other technology to connect pupils and teachers in different geographical locations.

Working capacity:

Working capacity measure of the total number of pupils which can be accommodated in a school in a particular session. It is calculated by adjusting the planning capacity based on the organisational needs of the school that session (e.g. considering pupil roll, composite classes, staffing etc.).