Gaelic secondary education plan agreed
COUNCILLORS have agreed a plan to provide Gaelic language education in Inverclyde for local secondary school pupils.
At a special meeting of the council’s education and communities committee, it was decided that Gaelic would be offered within Inverclyde Academy from the academic year beginning August 2024, subject to a statutory consultation process and final approval.
The council has a respected Gaelic provision at Whinhill Primary School and nursery class but no secondary offering.
Currently, high school pupils travel to Glasgow for Gaelic education.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s convener of education and communities, said: “This is a welcome step towards providing a dedicated Gaelic secondary education here in Inverclyde.
“Currently, parents have to put in a placing request for their children to continue their Gaelic education in Glasgow but we want to build on the success of the Gaelic provision at Whinhill and create a sustainable pathway for Gaelic education here in Inverclyde from early years right through to high school.”
There is no statutory requirement for the council to provide secondary Gaelic education but it is expected that the school in Glasgow will not be able to accommodate placing requests in future so proposals were developed to create a solution locally.
Plans were drawn up in collaboration with the local Gaelic advisory group, which was established by the council in May 2022 and is made up of representatives from parent group Comann nam Pàrant, Gaelic language body Bòrd na Gàidhlig, council officers and staff from Whinhill Primary School.
The local authority also commissioned an external study to evaluate the various proposals.
Establishing Gaelic secondary provision within Inverclyde Academy was the preferred option based on cost, accessibility and its existing links to Whinhill Primary School as a ‘cluster’ school in the same catchment area.
Currently there are 12 children attending school in Glasgow for secondary Gaelic education and there are 35 pupils in Gaelic education at Whinhill Primary School.
A formal proposal will now be drawn up and brought before the education committee at a later date before going out to public consultation.
The full report can be found in the committees section of the council website at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/2544 and the meeting is also available to watch on the council’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtazjod0wgA.
Plana air aontachadh airson foghlam Gàidhlig san àrd-sgoil
THA comhairlichean air plana aontachadh gus foghlam Gàidhlig a thoirt seachad ann an Inbhir Chluaidh do sgoilearan àrd-sgoile san sgìre.
Aig coinneamh shònraichte de chomataidh foghlaim is choimhearsnachdan na comhairle, chaidh co-dhùnadh gum biodh Gàidhlig air a tabhann taobh a-staigh Acadamaidh Inbhir Chluaidh bhon bhliadhna acadaimigeach a’ tòiseachadh san Lùnastal 2024, le ùmhlachd do phròiseas co-chomhairleachaidh reachdail agus aonta deireannach.
Tha solar Gàidhlig cliùiteach aig a' chomhairle ann am Bun-sgoil agus Sgoil-àraich Chnoc a’ Chonaisg, ach chan eil tairgse àrd-sgoile ann.
Aig an àm seo, bidh sgoilearan àrd-sgoile a’ siubhal a Ghlaschu airson foghlam Gàidhlig.
Thuirt an Comhairliche Jim Clocherty, Neach-gairm foghlaim is choimhearsnachdan aig Comhairle Inbhir Chluaidh: “’S e deagh cheum a tha seo a dh’ionnsaigh foghlam àrd-sgoile Gàidhlig a sholarachadh an seo ann an Inbhir Chluaidh.
“An-dràsta, feumaidh pàrantan iarrtas àite-sgoile a chur a-steach gus an lean an cuid chloinne air adhart le foghlam Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu ach tha sinn airson togail air soirbheachas an t-solair Ghàidhlig aig Cnoc a’ Chonaisg agus slighe sheasmhach a chruthachadh airson foghlam Gàidhlig an seo ann an Inbhir Chluaidh bho thoiseach nan tràth-bhliadhnaichean dhan àrd-sgoil.”
Chan eil riatanas reachdail sam bith air a’ chomhairle foghlam Gàidhlig àrd-sgoile a sholarachadh ach thathar an dùil nach bi an sgoil ann an Glaschu comasach air gabhail ri iarrtasan airson àiteachan-sgoile san àm ri teachd agus mar sin chaidh molaidhean a churthachadh gus fuasgladh ionadail a chruthachadh.
Chaidh planaichean ullachadh ann an co-obrachadh leis a’ bhuidheann chomhairleachaidh Ghàidhlig ionadail, a chaidh a stèidheachadh leis a’ chomhairle sa Chèitean 2022 agus a tha air a dèanamh suas de riochdairean bho Chomann nam Pàrant, buidheann Ghàidhlig Bòrd na Gàidhlig, oifigearan na comhairle agus luchd-obrach bho Bhun-sgoil Chnoc a’ Chonaisg.
Bharantaich an t-ùghdarras ionadail cuideachd sgrùdadh bhon taobh a-muigh gus measadh a dhèanamh air na diofar mholaidhean.
B' e stèidheachadh foghlam àrd-sgoile Gàidhlig taobh a-staigh Acadamaidh Inbhir Chluaidh an roghainn a b' fheàrr a rèir cosgais, ruigsinneachd agus na ceanglaichean a th' ann mar-tha ri Bun-sgoil Chnoc a’ Chonaisg mar sgoil san aon sgìre-sgoile.
Aig an àm seo, tha 12 sgoilear a' dol dhan sgoil ann an Glaschu airson foghlam Gàidhlig àrd-sgoile agus tha 35 sgoilear ann am foghlam Gàidhlig ann am Bun-sgoil Chnoc a’ Chonaisg.
Thèid moladh foirmeil a dhealbhadh a-nis agus a thoirt air beulaibh comataidh an fhoghlaim nas fhaide air adhart mus tèid e a-mach gu co-chomhairleachadh poblach.
Gheibhear an aithisg slàn ann an earrann nan comataidhean air làrach-lìn na comhairle aig www.inverclyde.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/2544 agus tha a’ choinneamh cuideachd ri faicinn air seanail YouTube na comhairle aig www.youtube.com/watch? v=Jtazjod0wgA.