Scottish Government: Supporting Gaelic’s growth
A new Gaelic primary school is set to open in Glasgow next year
after a £2 million investment from the Scottish Government.
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) which will
become the city's fourth Gaelic language primary. Deputy First
Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes
announced the...Request free trial
A new Gaelic primary school is set to open in Glasgow next year after a £2 million investment from the Scottish Government. 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) which will become the city's fourth Gaelic language primary. Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes announced the investment as part of a £2.4 million package to support Gaelic schools and cultural initiatives across Scotland. The funding will also support:
On a visit to the site of the new school, Ms 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.” Background Projects benefiting from Scottish Government Gaelic Capital Fund allocations for 2024-25 are listed below.
Glasgow is home to the third largest number of children and young people in Gaelic Medium Education in Scotland with 740 primary pupils in 2023. Census statistics show that 17,380 people in Glasgow had some Gaelic skills 2022, an increase of 7,911 people from 2011. Glasgow City Council has provided £17.6 million towards works at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn, within an overall project budget of £23.8 million. The works are supported by the Scottish Government's £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme which is delivered in partnership with local authorities. Nine school projects included in the programme will open in 2025-26. |