Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar celebrates its win at the Scottish Education Awards

The Scottish Education Awards, sponsored by Education Scotland and The Daily Record, took place at a glittering ceremony on Wednesday 5th June at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central. 

There were a range of categories in the national education awards recognising the dedication and commitment of establishments, practitioners and education supporters.  Awards included the Parents as Partners in Learning Award as well as Head Teacher of the Year Award.  Entries to the awards were open to all publicly funded schools, including secondary, primary, early learning centres and special schools.

The Gaelic Education Award which is sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig included three finalists: Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar, Sgoil Stafainn and Sgoil Bhaile a' Mhanaich.  The award recognises early learning and childcare settings and schools that have developed a vibrant and progressive culture and climate of continuous innovation in relation to Gaelic Medium and Gaelic Learner Education.  The culture and ethos of establishments nominated for this award category promote respect, ambition and achievement in Gaelic Education while improving outcomes for all learners in ways which eliminate inequity.

Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar won the Gaelic Education Award.

John Joe MacNeil, Head Teacher at Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar, said: “We are thrilled and delighted to have won this award.  Four years ago, we set out a vision to ensure that our youngsters were learning at the very heart of our language culture and community, and I am delighted that we are seeing this vision embedded across our school community.  Thank you to our dedicated and hardworking staff team who give our youngsters such an array of opportunities utilising their language skills in and out of the classroom.  Thank you to all our families and partners for their continued support.  Thank you to our inspirational youngsters who pride themselves in our language and culture every day and are the future of our language.”     

Ingrid Henderson, chair of the Parent Council, added: “We are very pleased that the school have been recognised at a national level for the outstanding work they do for all our children.”       

Councillor Alister Mackinnon said, “This is a huge accolade for the Gaelic school in Lochaber especially for the youngsters, staff, families and wider community, and indeed the Highlands to achieve a national award for Gaelic Education. 

He continued, “This is due to primarily the dedication and hard work of the Head Teacher, teachers and support staff at the school as well as the continuing partnerships with parents, volunteers and outside agencies.”

Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar a’ soirbheachadh aig Duaisean Foghlaim na h-Alba

Chaidh Duaisean Foghlaim na h-Alba, air an sponsaireachd le Foghlam Alba agus The Daily Record, a chumail aig cuirm spaideil air Diciadain 5 Ògmhios aig an DoubleTree by Hilton ann am Meadhan Ghlaschu. 

Bha raon earrannan sna duaisean foghlaim nàiseanta, ag aithneachadh dealas agus dìcheall ionadan, luchd-obrach agus luchd-taice foghlaim. Am measg nan duaisean bha Duais nam Pàrantan mar Chom-pàirtichean ann an Ionnsachadh agus Duais Ceannard-sgoile na Bliadhna. Bha tagraidhean do na duaisean fosgailte do sgoiltean a tha air am maoineachadh gu poblach, a’ gabhail a-steach àrd-sgoiltean, bun-sgoiltean, ionadan tràth-ionnsachaidh agus sgoiltean speisealta.

Tha Duais Foghlaim na Gàidhlig air a sponsaireachd le Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus bha trì sgoiltean sa chuairt dheireannaich: Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar, Sgoil Stafainn agus Sgoil Bhaile a’ Mhanaich. Tha an duais a’ toirt aithne do dh’ionadan tràth-ionnsachaidh is cùraim-chloinne agus sgoiltean a tha air cultar is àrainneachd shunndach, leantainneach is innleachdach a leasachadh a thaobh Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig agus Foghlam Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig. Tha cultar is spiorad nan ionadan a tha air an ainmeachadh san earrainn seo a’ cur air adhart spèis, àrd-amas agus coileanadh ann am Foghlam Gàidhlig fhad ’s a thathar a’ leasachadh bhuilean dhan a h-uile neach-ionnsachaidh, ann an dòigh a tha a’ cur às do neo-ionannachd.

Bhuannaich Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar Duais Foghlaim na Gàidhlig.

Thuirt Iain Iòsaph MacNèill, Ceannard Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar: “Tha sinn cho moiteil an duais seo a bhuannachadh. Bho chionn ceithir bliadhna, bha lèirsinn againn gum biodh ar n-òigridh ag ionnsachadh aig cridhe ar cultair is ar coimhearsnachd, agus tha mi fìor thoilichte gu bheil an lèirsinn sin a-nis air a daingneachadh thar coimhearsnachd na sgoile. Bu toil leam taing a thoirt dhan sgioba luchd-obrach dhealasach is dhìcheallach againn a tha a’ toirt raon farsaing chothroman dhan òigridh againn gus na sgilean cànain aca a chleachdadh taobh a-staigh is taobh a-muigh an t-seòmair-theagaisg. Bu mhath leam taing a thoirt cuideachd do na teaghlaichean is na com-pàirtichean againn airson an taic leantainnich. Agus bu mhath leam taing shònraichte a thoirt dhan òigridh bhrosnachail againn agus iad a’ sealltainn spèis cho mòr gach latha dhar cànain ’s dhar cultair agus gu dearbh is iad fhèin àm ri teachd ar cànain.”

Thuirt Ingrid Henderson, cathraiche Comhairle nam Pàrant: “Tha sinn fìor thoilichte gun deach an sgoil aithneachadh aig ìre nàiseanta airson na h-obrach ionmholta a tha iad a’ dèanamh airson ar cuid chloinne air fad.”

Thuirt an Comhairliche Alasdair MacFhionghuin: “’S e moladh mòr dha-rìribh a tha seo dhan sgoil Ghàidhlig ann an Loch Abar, gu h-àraid airson na h-òigridh, an luchd-obrach, na teaghlaichean agus a’ choimhearsnachd san fharsaingeachd, agus gu dearbh a’ Ghàidhealtachd, gus an duais nàiseanta seo a choileanadh airson Foghlam Gàidhlig.

Lean e air adhart, “Tha seo gu ìre mhòir mar thoradh air dealas is dìcheall a’ Cheannaird, nan tidsearan agus an luchd-obrach taice san sgoil, cho math ris na com-pàirteachasan leantainneach a th’ aca le pàrantan, saor-thoilich agus buidhnean bhon taobh a-muigh.”