Consultation on Gaelic Medium Primary School provision in Skye and in Lochaber

The Highland Council has agreed to progress consultation on the development of all Gaelic Medium Education Primary Schools.

Members of the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee yesterday (22nd May) agreed to remit to the Council’s Gaelic Committee to consider and agree the terms of consultation papers on the future of Gaelic Medium Education on the Isle of Skye and in Lochaber.

Councillor Hamish Fraser Chairman of the Council’s Gaelic Committee said: “This is a significant step forward by the Council towards meeting our commitments to support the development of the Gaelic language. This decision is important in ensuring that the Council continues to move forward the Programme for Administration and continues to consolidate the Council’s aspirations to fulfil the many important elements of its Gaelic Language Plan.”

Councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurchan, Bren Gormley, Vice Chairman of the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: “I welcome this step in the consolidation of Gaelic Medium Education in Lochaber and Skye which complements wider education developments extremely well.”

In January this year, Highland Council marked the formal opening of Scotland’s first purpose-built Gaelic Medium Primary school Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis by the First Minister Alex Salmond.

From August, 2007, the Council also established a dedicated Gaelic school in Sleat, Isle of Skye, with an English medium department which was the first school of this kind in Highland.

The Highland Council currently has 20 primary schools providing Gaelic Medium education  provision for approx 1,000 nursery and primary  pupils.