DRAFT GAELIC LANGUAGE PLAN 2018–2022
Whilst Drummond and the other secondaries were being considered as locations for GME, the second Gaelic Language Plan was being developed, resulting in the draft Gaelic Language Plan 2018–2022, which was open to consultation until 15 December. This, like the first Gaelic Language Plan, has commitments to Gaelic Medium Education, and there were engagement events at schools.
To this end, a co-production group was established, working to the Gaelic Implementation Group […], which consists of elected members, council officers, service providers, and Gaelic community representatives, and academics. The Co-production Group undertook a strategic review of GME pre-birth, and 0–18 provision during 2016 and 2017, which included specific based engagement events at GME schools during late 2016.
There are aspirations to expand GME at both primary and secondary level. ‘Future state actions’ for primary education in the Draft Gaelic Language Plan include:
Action 1 – Expand capacity at Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce through capital works and re-organising classroom space.
[…]
Action 3 - Develop a new Bun-sgoil 5–11 in another part of the City in an existing primary school with associated transition plans.
Action 4 – Develop a Bun-sgoil 5–11 in another part of the City, as an annex to an [English Medium Education] school, with associated transition plans.
Action 5 – Develop a new build Bun-sgoil 5–11 with associated transition plans.
Among the ‘Future state actions’ for secondary education in the Draft Gaelic Language Plan are:
Action 3 – Once expansion of the provision at JGHS has been delivered, examine the feasibility of moving the GME Unit to another school site to enable increasing numbers of pupils from Taobh na Pàirce, and any other GME primary school facility, to move into GME S1 In addition, any such school site would be required to develop a long-term plan to ensure the quality and sustainable (with capacity for at least 20 years) expansion of GME, and may form a through school for 3–18.
[…]
Action 6 – Enter joint resourcing discussions with Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig regarding secondary GME expansion options by 2022.