The Highlands have a population of 215,310 people spread across 25,659 quare kilometres - the largest area of any of Scotland's 32 councils. There are 219 publicly funded schools, including 184 primaries, 30 secondaries and 5 special schools. 32,163 pupils attend these schools, including 17,059 primary pupils, 14,942 secondary pupils and 162 special needs pupils.