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Group photo of children and adults outside West Watten Public School, posed in rows against a stone wall. Date 1910.

The Education (Scotland) Act 1872: 150 years of learning

Highland Archive Centre
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Few pieces of legislation can have had such an impact on Scotland’s children as the Education (Scotland) Act 1872.  Following on from the 1870 Education Act in England & Wales, it would revolutionise the education system in Scotland, making provision for a Board of Education for Scotland and the establishment of local school boards across the country.

This was the moment that education became compulsory for children aged 5-13, the training of teachers went into overdrive, hundreds of new school buildings were erected, and thousands of admission registers and school log books were generated as record-keeping was standardised. 

Historic black-and-white photograph showing a group of seven schoolgirls posed outdoors against a large stone wall with two buildings in the background. They are wearing heavy garments with shawls and head coverings, and some have white cloths draped across their shoulders. Taken on St Kilda.

St Kilda schoolchildren, date unknown

Early 20th-century group photo of male and female teachers from Fort William Higher Grade School posed outdoors in two rows, wearing formal suits and long dresses, with a patterned rug in front.

Teachers at Fort William Higher Grade School, 1911

Group photo of children and adults outside West Watten Public School, posed in rows against a stone wall. Date 1910.

West Watten School - Pupils

To mark the 150th anniversary of this transformative act, join us to learn why it was needed, what it meant for our young people, and what the records it generated can tell us about teachers, subjects, holidays, discipline, and other subjects.  Delve into the Highland Archive Service collections to learn about the benefits the Education (Scotland) Act brought, the problems it created, and the legacy we’re all still living with.

Click on the tiles below to explore the exhibition. 

Historic hand-drawn map showing a section of Inverness with streets, rows of buildings, and a river on the right side. The map includes a rectangular plot labeled “A Piece of Ground” with measurements, and a scale marked in feet on the left. Architectural details of buildings and a tower are illustrated along the streets.

Before the Act

Explore education in the Highlands before the 1872 Education (Scotland) Act, from church and charity-run schools to private foundations and unequal access to learning.

A black-and-white photograph of a large group of schoolchildren posed in three rows outside a stone building with three-paned windows. The children are wearing early 20th-century clothing, including dresses, pinafores, and buttoned jackets. Most are seated on a bench in the front row, with others standing behind. Several children have bare feet, while others wear boots. One child in the front row holds a chalkboard sign that reads: “Embo Public School, 1912. 3 171."

The Act

Discover how the Education (Scotland) Act 1872 transformed schooling, making attendance compulsory and creating a national system of education for all children in Scotland.

Architectural elevation drawing of a two-story and single-story building with pitched roofs, chimneys, and a scale at the bottom.

Buildings

Explore how the Education (Scotland) Act 1872 transformed the Highland landscape through the construction of schools, schoolhouses and iconic educational buildings.

Open school register from 1875 showing handwritten columns of student names, admission details, and progress records.

Recordkeeping

Explore school log books, admission registers and other records created after the Education (Scotland) Act 1872, revealing valuable insights into Highland communities, education and family history.

Early 20th-century group photo of male and female teachers from Fort William Higher Grade School posed outdoors in two rows, wearing formal suits and long dresses, with a patterned rug in front.

Teachers

Explore the lives of Highland teachers after the Education (Scotland) Act 1872, from recruitment and training to rural side schools and changing classroom experiences.

Handwritten school timetable from 1916 showing subjects and time slots in a grid, with notes and a signature at the bottom.

Subjects

Explore the subjects taught in Highland schools after the Education (Scotland) Act 1872, from reading, writing and arithmetic to history, geography, science and music.

Historic team photo of a school shinty team from the 1980s posed in front of a stone building, wearing matching sports uniforms and holding shinty sticks.

Games, Sport and Play

Explore games, sport and play in Highland schools, from shinty teams and sports days to playground games, school trips, choirs and cultural activities.

Handwritten school log book entries from 1873–1874 noting opening day, holidays, attendance, and classroom challenges.

High days and holidays

Explore how holidays, seasonal work and special events shaped school life in the Highlands, from tattie holidays and old New Year celebrations to memorable moments recorded in school log books.

A Lochgelly tawse, a thick leather strap with two tails, resting diagonally on a wooden stool with a visible wood grain surface.

Discipline

Explore discipline in Highland schools after the Education (Scotland) Act 1872, from the tawse and truancy cases to attitudes towards Gaelic, left-handedness and classroom behaviour.

Handwritten school log book entry dated May 21, 1875 noting a holiday for the local market, a ball frame drill, and difficulty teaching English numeration.

Impact on Gaelic

Explore the impact of the Education (Scotland) Act 1872 on Gaelic, from the decline of Gaelic in schools and communities to the later development of Gaelic-medium education.

Large group of pupils in maroon and yellow uniforms seated on a gym floor with staff standing at the back; chairs line the left side of the hall.

Legacy of the Act

Explore the lasting legacy of the Education (Scotland) Act 1872, which transformed literacy, opportunity and society while leaving a complex impact on Gaelic language and culture.

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