Rural schools are suffering from an exodus of staff after the number of full-time teachers has fallen significantly across the North East of Scotland.
New figures released by the Scottish Government show teachers in Aberdeenshire have dropped by 133 since the start of the Covid pandemic – one of the largest declines in Scotland.
Since 2020, teachers based in Aberdeenshire have fallen by 5%, from 2,739 to 2,606.
Across the local authority, there are 41 fewer teachers than there were last year.
It comes after leaders of Aberdeenshire’s 17 parent councils warned that some subjects were not able to be taught, describing the issue as “crucial”.
A similar fall of 5% has also been seen in Moray, with teacher numbers dropping from 977 in 2022 to 922 in 2025.
There are now 10 less teachers in Moray than there were last year.
The pupil-teacher ratio across Moray now stands at 13.1, compared to 2020 when it stood at 13.9.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Alexander Burnett, said: “These alarming findings highlight the deepening crisis that exists within the Scottish education system, particularly in our rural schools across Aberdeenshire.
“Rural students deserve the same attention, resources, and funding from the Scottish Government as those in urban areas.
“However, it’s clear that teacher numbers are plummeting faster in Aberdeenshire than in other parts of the country and the SNP have abandoned the pitch when it comes to meaningful solutions to address the impact of their policies and choices.”
Buckie-based MSP and Scottish Conservative shadow rural secretary Tim Eagle said: “The decline in teacher numbers in Moray is very worrying and shows the struggles that our rural areas are facing in trying to retain staff.
“These figures lay bare the intolerable pressures that exhausted teachers are facing as they battle to contend with high workloads and a lack of resources.
“The Scottish Government must urgently address this exodus facing councils by giving teachers secure employment in rural areas, so every child has the same educational opportunities, regardless of where they live.”
