GLASGOW is set to get its fourth Gaelic primary school next year after a £2.4 million investment from the Scottish Government.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes announced the investment as part of a £2.4m package to support Gaelic schools and cultural initiatives across Scotland at the site in Calton today.
The funding will complete the refurbishment and extension of the former St James’ Primary School building to establish Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn (Calton Gaelic Primary School).
Glasgow is home to the third largest number of children and young people in Gaelic education in Scotland with 740 primary pupils in 2023.
Census statistics from 2022 showed that 17,380 people in Glasgow had some Gaelic skills, an increase of 7911 people from 2011.
The £2.4m funding will also support:
- the construction of a second classroom at West Primary School in Paisley
- the expansion of two Gaelic cultural centres in the Highlands
- cultural events through An Comunn Gàidhealach who will host this year’s Royal National Mòd in Lochaber
On a visit to the site of the new school, Forbes said: “This school will build on the encouraging surge we have seen in the number of Gaelic speakers and learners in Glasgow and support the language’s growth into the future.
“Gaelic medium education enriches communities and offers good value for money by providing better grade averages across all qualification levels despite costs being no greater than average.
“To support Gaelic’s growth across Scotland, we are providing an additional £5.7 million for Gaelic initiatives this year. We are also progressing the Scottish Languages Bill which, if passed by MSPs, will introduce measures to strengthen the provision of Gaelic education.”
The new school, with space for 416 pupils, will be managed by Glasgow City Council. It meets a growing demand for Gaelic primary education in the city. Census figures published last year show a 45% increase in the number of people with some Gaelic skills in Glasgow compared to 2011.
Alison Richardson, headteacher of Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn, said: “With Gaelic medium education continuing to flourish in Glasgow, our pupils and parents are excited and proud to be moving Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn into its very own repurposed school located in the East End.
“We look forward to supporting Gaelic’s growth in the Calton area, where many spoke it in the past, and for the school to become a real focal point and asset to the local community.”
