Fresh investment in Gaelic will propel Scottish pupils to success

The National

07-06-2025

I consider it an honour to champion the Gaelic language, and I've been thankful that recent years have seen significant progress on Gaelic language and culture policy.
Among these is the Scottish Languages Bill, which is progressing through parliament and, if passed by MSPs, will ensure there is a more robust legal framework for Gaelic's promotion, particularly in education and public life.
Adding to this is the overall trend of recent years in public finance, which reflects continued investment in the language and its culture. We've seen sustained funding increases that recognise Gaelic language as a valuable asset that strengthens our national identity.
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But to me, the most encouraging sign of Gaelic's growing cultural success is our booming Gaelic schools.
Being a recipient myself of Gaelic medium education (GME), I have first-hand experience of its value and effectiveness, having first learned the language while studying in GME in the Highlands. Learning through Gaelic undoubtedly instilled in me a deep appreciation for Scotland's rich culture, and the importance of preserving it for future generations.
It was a joy to further strengthen Gaelic medium education this week with an announcement of funding for a new Gaelic primary school. Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn (Calton Gaelic Primary School) will become Glasgow's fourth Gaelic language primary school, following a £2 million investment from the Scottish Government.
The school will have space for 416 pupils and will meet 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.
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. This exciting growth appears to be representative of the nationwide picture, with demand for places in Gaelic schools frequently outpacing supply – a problem we're delighted to have, as it demonstrates the genuine enthusiasm families have for bilingual education.
Data from the Scottish Government tells us that in 2009, there were 2206 pupils in GME, compared with 5417 for the year 2022-2023. This represents an increase of 145%! The national picture for GME uptake is one of steady and encouraging growth.
Perhaps this should be unsurprising, given the numerous and well-studied benefits of bilingualism in children. Evidence shows that bilingual children can demonstrate improved problem-solving, better attention and enhanced memory.
There are also huge personal and confidence benefits that come from the knowledge and respect gained for Gaelic culture. There is a beautiful richness to be discovered in Gaelic songs, stories, traditions and history.
It's not uncommon to hear concerns that Gaelic medium children will somehow be left behind compared to the majority who learn in English medium settings. But here, yet again, the evidence shows these fears to be unfounded. Children who go through Gaelic medium education match or exceed the levels of attainment of their monolingual contemporaries in English medium education.
Gaelic medium education enriches communities and offers good value for money, providing better grade averages across all qualification levels despite costs being no greater than average.
There are a multitude of reasons to embrace Gaelic medium education, and the evidence highlights that GME comes with a wealth of additional benefits for individuals and communities around the country.
The announcement of funding for Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn in Glasgow came alongside a host of other projects set to benefit from the Gaelic Capital Fund, with initiatives around the country gaining an additional £5.7m this year.
Schools in locations such as Skye, Paisley, East Kilbride, Cumbernauld and Forfar will, among other things, receive new learning equipment, Gaelic signage and much sought-after upgrades to facilities.
There's never been a better time to believe in Gaelic medium education. As a representative of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, a constituency where 12% of the population has skills in Gaelic, I've never been prouder of the SNP majority government that is investing in Gaelic language and culture.
It's my sincere hope that generations to come will look back with thankfulness on these definitive years for the Gaelic language, seeing them as a turning point. I'm convinced that for this to be the case, bolstering support for GME will play a crucial role.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if we don't recognise and protect our national languages, nobody else will!