WIREDGOV

Deputy First Minister announces £1.9 million investment in project.

A third Gaelic school is to open in Glasgow as demand for places continues to grow.

Increased capacity will ensure the local authority can meet demand for Gaelic medium education (GME) in coming years and improve learning opportunities for young people. The new school will be located in the Cartvale area of the city and it is expected to open to pupils in 2019.

Nearly 900 pupils are enrolled in Glasgow’s two existing GME schools at Glendale and Berkeley Street – both of which are now at capacity.

Speaking following a debate on the National Gaelic Language Plan 2018-23, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:

“We have an opportunity to build on the success of recent years and to ensure a faster rate of progress in the expansion of Gaelic education across Scotland. Glasgow City Council has a remarkable record with Gaelic education and the establishment of a third standalone school will provide capacity to meet growing demand from parents. Following the opening of Portree Gaelic School last week – the sixth in Scotland – we will continue to support and encourage the growth of Gaelic education.”

Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills & Early Years welcomed the grant funding and said:

“The expansion of Gaelic Medium Education across Glasgow is very exciting and more families than ever before are able to access Gaelic for their children and at all stages through nursery to secondary school.

“The development of the former Cartvale School is yet another example of our continued commitment to GME and we welcome the additional grant which will go towards the upgrades and renovations for the opening of the new school building in August 2019.”

 Background

Funding will be provided from the Gaelic Capital Fund which was set up in 2008 in recognition of the key role of education in increasing the number of Gaelic speakers.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring a sustainable future for Gaelic and has an ambition of returning the number of speakers of the language to those reported in the 2001 census by 2021.