Gaelic medium education

The Highland Council believes that Gaelic medium education represents the best hope for reversing the decline of Gaelic in the Highlands, especially if it is supported by opportunities for young people  to use Gaelic in the home and community.

Highland is one of the leading authorities in Scotland in the provision of Gaelic medium education [GME], with (in 2006):

• 18 Gaelic medium nurseries and 5 partner centres providing GME for 226 three and four olds
• 19 primary schools providing Gaelic medium education for 710 pupils, with two new classes expected to start in August 2006
• 12 secondary schools offering Gàidhlig (Gaelic fluent speaker) classes, or subject teaching through the medium of Gaelic medium, to 349 pupils.

In addition 12 secondary schools provide classes for Gaelic Learners for 1,318 pupils, and pupils in 40 primary schools receive a basic grounding in Gaelic as part of a programme which trains class teachers to teach Gaelic.

Highland also has designated Gaelic medium posts in its Community Learning and Development service, which support a range of activities for parents and other adults and for young people in Gaelic and Gaelic medium education. 

A copy of the Gaelic Medium Strategy is available from the current documents section.

A copy of Interchange 62 - The attainments of pupils receiving Gaelic-medium primary education in Scotland is available in Gaelic and English in the current documents section.

Links to various Gaelic organisations are located in the External Links section.

The Highland Council is a major employer of Gaelic and Gaelic medium teachers, in the primary and secondary school.  Gaelic teachers interested in the possibility of employment in Highland are invited to contact

Donnie MacDonald
Head of Education Services 
Education, Culture and Sport Service
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX 

Telephone: 01463 702804
e-mail:  donnie.macdonald@highland.gov.uk