Edinburgh schools: Asbestos found in 90 schools and nurseries in Edinburgh - full list revealed

It has been revealed that 90 schools and nurseries in Edinburgh contain asbestos - including 18 which contain the type among the most dangerous to health.

The list, obtained from Edinburgh City Council through an FOI request, includes 76 schools - the vast majority of which are primaries - and 14 nurseries.

The data revealed a total of 68 primary schools - three quarters of all primary schools in the city - contain asbestos. The list also includes five high schools and three special education schools.

Edinburgh City Council said it “acknowledges the alarm” the presence of asbestos can cause but reassured parents it had a “robust and comprehensive” management plan in place to keep buildings safe for pupils and staff.

In the past, asbestos was used in a number of products including in materials for insulation, fireproofing and roofing.

Asbestos fibres can be released if they are damaged or disturbed, for example during drilling or maintenance work | Getty Images

It has been banned for over two decades but remains commonly found in buildings constructed or refurbished before the year 2000.

The two main sub-groups of asbestos are serpentine and amphiboles. Amphibole asbestos, made up of brittle fibres with a needle-like appearance, is the kind that is more hazardous to health. Crocidolite asbestos, commonly known as blue asbestos, was the most used amphibole in the past and is considered one of the most dangerous types of asbestos.

The data obtained from Edinburgh City Council revealed 52 schools and nurseries in the capital contain both serpentine and amphibole asbestos - and 18 contain serpentine and amphibole asbestos which included crocidolite.

Twenty are recorded as containing only the serpentine type.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states in its guidance the presence of asbestos alone “should not be a cause for concern”, and that if asbestos-containing materials are kept intact the risk to health is low.

The workplace health and safety regulator said materials only become a risk to health if they are damaged or disturbed, in which case fibres can be released into the air and breathed in.

Current regulations state where materials are assessed as being in good condition, and not in a position where they are likely to be damaged, they should be left in place and monitored.

The city council has legal obligations to manage the risk in council-owned or managed buildings, including carrying out regular assessments and keeping an up-to-date register of asbestos materials.

In 2023, an FOI request revealed 1,700 schools across Scotland contained asbestos | Getty Images

An Edinburgh City Council spokesperson said: “We want to reassure that we operate a robust and comprehensive Asbestos Management System for all our schools and nurseries ensuring that all our buildings are safe for those who use them.

“This includes up to date Asbestos Registers monitored by qualified Asbestos Surveyors, with regular condition monitoring assessments carried out and clearly documented site-specific Asbestos Management Plans in place if required.”

They said the council follows all HSE guidance and specialist surveyors ensure all asbestos-containing material is identified and managed, which includes measures to prevent any disturbance from happening.

The spokesperson said “high-risk” material is either safely removed or “carefully managed through constant and robust monitoring”.

They added: “All our staff and contractors are provided with the relevant information, training, and guidance to ensure that all works are carried out safely.

“It is important to stress that our priority is the safety of our pupils and school staff and our Asbestos Policy and Procedures, along with regular site audits carried out by the Health and Safety Executive, ensures we remain complaint.”

In 2023, it was revealed that more than 1,700 schools across Scotland contain asbestos.

Some charity leaders have urged authorities to safely remove all asbestos-containing materials from Scotland’s schools as an urgent priority due to the long-term health risks.

Phyllis Craig, the manager of Action on Asbestos, warned asbestos fibres can become loose if materials are not constantly maintained and could potentially be disturbed by everyday activities such as damage from a football or heavy trucks passing nearby.

Dianne Foster, general manager at the charity Asbestos Action, said the new figures painted “a very damning picture” of the situation in Scotland.

She said: “In Edinburgh the local authority has literally blocked entire roads to keep children safe from cars. The same authority has also brought in LEZ zones to protect children from pollution.

“Asbestos claims more lives in the UK than car crashes and is also aligned with air quality so why then is there not the same level of concern?

“We need officials to see asbestos is a public health matter, not just a construction issue, because lives are literally being lost due to denial and inaction.”

The Scottish Government has previously said it recognises the risks asbestos poses to health but that it can remain in place if it is in “good” condition and all HSE guidance is followed.

In response to the latest revelations, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: "In Scotland, school buildings belong to local councils – the management and maintenance of the school estate is a matter for local authorities, like Edinburgh Council.

“However, through the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme, the Scottish Government has supported local authorities to improve and build new school buildings.

“It is through this investment by local authorities and Scottish Government that has dramatically reduced asbestos within the school estate.

“Indeed the latest figures show that the proportion of schools in “good” or “satisfactory” condition has increased from 62% in 2007 to a record 92% in 2025.”

The full list of schools and nurseries in Edinburgh recorded as containing asbestos is below.

Nurseries

• Abbeyhill Primary School - Nursery: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Balgreen Nursery School - Nursery: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Broughton Primary School - Nursery: Serpentine
• Bruntsfield Primary School - Nursery: Serpentine
• Carrick Knowe Primary School - Nursery: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Dean Park Annexe - Nursery: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Greengables Nursery School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Hope Cottage Nursery School: Serpentine
• Kirkliston Nursery School: Serpentine
• Liberton Nursery School: Serpentine
• Parkside Primary School - Nursery: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Spinney Lane Nursery School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• St Leonards Nursery School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Stockbridge Primary School - Nursery: Serpentine

Schools

• Abbeyhill Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Balerno High School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Balgreen Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Blackhall Primary School: Serpentine
• Broughton Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Brunstane Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Bruntsfield Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Buckstone Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Canal View Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Carrick Knowe Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Clermiston Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Clovenstone Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Colinton Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Corstorphine Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Craigentinny Primary School: Serpentine
• Craiglockhart Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Cramond Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Currie Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Dalmeny Primary School: Serpentine
• Dalry Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Davidson's Mains Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Dean Park Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Duddingston Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• East Craigs Primary School: Serpentine
• Echline Primary School: Serpentine
• Ferryhill Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Flora Stevenson Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Fox Covert and St Andrew's RC Fox Covert Primary School:Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Gilmerton Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Gracemount Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Granton Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Gylemuir Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Hermitage Park Primary School: Serpentine
• Hillwood Primary School: Serpentine
• Holy Cross RC Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Kaimes School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Kirkliston Primary School: Serpentine
• Leith Academy School: Serpentine
• Leith Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Leith Walk Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Liberton High School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Liberton Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Longstone Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Lorne Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Murrayburn Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Nether Currie Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Newcraighall Primary School: Serpentine
• Parkside Primary School: Serpentine
• Parsons Green Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Pentland Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Pilrig Park School: Serpentine
• Prestonfield Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Prospect Bank School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Queensferry Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Ratho Primary School: Serpentine
• Royal High Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Royal Mile Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Sciennes Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Sighthill Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• South Morningside Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• St Catherines RC Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• St Cuthberts RC Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• St John Vianney RC Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• St Margaret's RC Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• St Marks RC Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• St Mary's (Edinburgh) Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• St Mary's (Leith) RC Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• St Ninians RC Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Stenhouse Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Stockbridge Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Tollcross Primary School: Serpentine
• Towerbank Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Trinity Academy School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite
• Trinity Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Wardie Primary School: Serpentine and Amphibole
• Wester Hailes Education Centre School: Serpentine and Amphibole - including Crocidolite