Schools by area › Orkney Islands › Kirkwall Grammar School
Kirkwall Grammar School
Secondary · Ages 11–18 · Council school
Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1QN · kgsorkney.com · 01856 872102
On the mapSearch near KW15 1QN
Overview
- Leavers, 2015/16
- 90%
- in a positive destination · virtual comparator 94%, Scotland 93%
- Pupils
- 833
- September 2025 census
- Local authority
- Orkney Islands
- Departments
- Secondary
- Denomination
- Non-denominational
- Medium of education
- English medium
- Special unit
- Has an integrated special unit
- Teachers
- 74.3
- Full-time equivalent
- Pupils per teacher
- 11.2
- Additional support needs
- 516 pupils (62%)
- English as an additional language
- 10 pupils (1%)
- Free school meals, P6 and older
- 7% (58 pupils)
- Most deprived areas
- 0%
- Most deprived fifth (SIMD)
From the Scottish Government’s school contact details, school level summary statistics and School Roll and Locations, and its leaver results (data.gov.scot).
Results
90% of the pupils who left Kirkwall Grammar School in 2015/16 were in a positive destination (higher or further education, training, employment, voluntary work or an activity agreement), against 94% for its virtual comparator, a matched group of similar pupils from other schools and 93% across Scotland.
60% left with literacy and numeracy at SCQF level 5 or better (virtual comparator 66%).
Scotland’s own measures, not GCSE or A level results, and never set beside England’s. The virtual comparator is not a school.
Middle 60% attainment for all (tariff points)
| 2024/25 · 168 leavers | Trend | School | Scotland | Comparator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment for all (tariff points) | ||||
| ▲163 | 132 | 127 | ||
| ●860 | 874 | 780 | ||
| ▼1,792 | 1,965 | 1,883 | ||
| Literacy and numeracy | ||||
| ▼85% | 89% | 88% | ||
| ●94% | 93% | 92% | ||
| Numeracy, level 4+ | hidden | 91% | hidden | |
| ▲73% | 70% | 68% | ||
| ▲85% | 82% | 80% | ||
| ●75% | 73% | 71% | ||
| Where leavers went | ||||
| Positive destination | hidden | 96% | hidden | |
hidden: too few pupils to publish
Inspection
Education Scotland’s latest graded inspection on file (inspection, report published 22 April 2014) graded it 1 to 6 on each quality indicator: Improvements in performance 4 (good); Learners’ experiences 4 (good); Meeting learning needs 3 (satisfactory); The curriculum 4 (good); Improvement through self-evaluation 3 (satisfactory).
- Report published
- 22 Apr 2014
- Inspection · Education Scotland
Quality indicators
| Improvements in performance | 4 · Good |
|---|---|
| Learners’ experiences | 4 · Good |
| Meeting learning needs | 3 · Satisfactory |
| The curriculum | 4 · Good |
| Improvement through self-evaluation | 3 · Satisfactory |