Gaelic in schools
Gaelic Education in Scotland is delivered in two main forms: Gaelic Medium Education and Gaelic Learner Education.
Learning about Gaelic language can deepen students' understanding and appreciation of Scotland's heritage and its place in the world.
Learning Gaelic can help young people build on their own language and other languages they may be learning, contributing further to their self-confidence and sense of accomplishment.
Gaelic Medium Education
Gaelic Medium Education (GME) is for any pupil regardless of the language of the home.
In choosing GME parents should recognise that pupils would be taught entirely in Gaelic for the first three years in primary school. This full immersion process is important in helping children to learn the language, and means that children don't need to have Gaelic before starting school.
From the end of Primary 3 onwards English is gradually introduced through the medium of Gaelic, but Gaelic is still the main language of teaching.
Gaelic Learner Education
Gaelic Learner Education sits alongside the teaching of other languages. Gaelic is learned in the same way as French, German and other languages that are taught.
As part of Scotland's Languages Policy all schools in Aberdeenshire are encouraged to consider Gaelic Learner Education as an L3 (beginning at any point between Primary 5 and Primary 7) option.
In Aberdeenshire opportunities to learn Gaelic in schools are supported through a range of courses and centrally provided resources. All our schools are encouraged to engage with the Gaelic Learner provision through e-Sgoil and the Northern Alliance.
Assessment request for GME
If you would like your child to access GME and they have not yet started to attend a primary school you can make a request for an assessment of need for Gaelic Medium Primary Education (GMPE).
We are committed to responding to requests and interest shown by families and young people for provision within Aberdeenshire Schools of Gaelic Medium Education.
The parent or carer of any child or young person can make a request to attend any school which offers GME. This will enable your child to be taught by specialist staff.
At present we don’t offer Gaelic Medium Education within Aberdeenshire schools. However, we will provide transport to other local authority schools that offer Gaelic education and share a boundary with Aberdeenshire.
There are Gaelic Medium Units within Gilcomston Primary School and Hazlehead Academy in Aberdeen City.
Before you make a request
If you wish to request an assessment of the need for Gaelic education for your child, view the statutory guidance on Gaelic education introduction published by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the public body responsible for the Gaelic language. This introduction provides an overview of how the assessment process works, along with what evidence you need to provide with your request. The guidance also provides general information on how Gaelic education is currently delivered in Scotland.
How to request an assessment
You can request an assessment of the need for Gaelic education using the forms on the Scottish Government website. Forms are available in English and Gaelic.
Please send your completed form to our Education and Children’s Services:
Aberdeenshire Council
Education and Children’s Services
Woodhilll House
Westburn Road
Aberdeen
AB16 5GB
Email: education@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Contact
For general questions about the GMPE assessment request process you can contact Bòrd na Gàidhlig and for questions relating to Gaelic education, you can contact the Scottish Government Gaelic and Scots Team.
Gàidhlig ann an sgoiltean
Tha foghlam Gàidhlig ann an Alba ga lìbhrigeadh ann an dà phrìomh chruth: Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus Foghlam Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig.
Le bhith ag ionnsachadh mu dheidhinn na Gàidhlig, faodaidh oileanaich doimhneachadh an tuigse is meas air dualchas na h-Alba agus an t-àite a tha aige san t-saoghal mhòr.
Faodaidh ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig daoine òga a chuideachadh gus togail air a’ chànan aca fhèin agus air cànanan eile a dh’fhaodadh iad a bhith ag ionnsachadh, a’ cur ri am fèin-mhisneachd agus faireachdainn de choileanadh.
Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig
Tha Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig (FMG) airson sgoilear sam bith, ge be air bith an cànan a th’ aca san dachaigh.
A’ taghadh FMG, bu chòir do phàrantan aithneachadh gum bi sgoilearan gan teagasg sa Ghàidhlig gu tur fad nan ciad trì bliadhna sa bhun-sgoil. Tha am pròiseas làn-bhogaidh seo cudromach gus clann a chuideachadh an cànan ionnsachadh, agus tha seo a’ ciallachadh nach fheum Gàidhlig a bhith aig a’ chloinn mus tòisich iad san sgoil.
Bho dheireadh Bun-sgoil 3 a-mach, tha Beurla ga toirt a-steach mean air mhean tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, ach bidh Gàidhlig fhathast na prìomh chànan teagaisg.
Foghlam Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig
Tha Foghlam Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig a’ suidhe còmhla ri teagasg chànanan eile. Bidh Gàidhlig air a h-ionnsachadh san aon dòigh ’s a tha Fraingis, Gearmailtis agus cànanan eile gan teagasg.
Mar phàirt de Phoileasaidh Cànanan na h-Alba, thathar a’ brosnachadh a h-uile sgoil ann an Siorrachd Obar Dheathain beachdachadh air Foghlam Luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig mar roghainn airson L3 (a’ tòiseachadh aig puing sam bith eadar Bun-sgoil 5 agus Bun-sgoil 7).
Ann an Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, thathar a’ toirt taic do chothroman gus Gàidhlig ionnsachadh tro raon chùrsaichean agus goireasan air an solarachadh tron mheadhan. Thathar a’ brosnachadh a h-uile sgoil againn com-pàirteachadh le solar Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig tro e-Sgoil agus Caidreachas a Tuath.
Tagradh measaidh airson FMG
Ma tha sibh ag iarraidh gum faigh ur pàiste cothrom air FMG agus iad gun tôiseachadh sa bhun-sgoil fhathast, faodaidh sibh tagradh measaidh airson Foghlam Bun-sgoile tron Ghàidhlig (FBG) a dhèanamh.
Tha sinn an geall air freagairt a thoirt do thagraidhean agus do’ùidh a tha teaghlaichean is daoine òga a’ nochdadh ann an solar Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig taobh a-staigh Siorrachd Obar Dheathain.
Faodaidh pàrant no neach-cùraim pàiste no duine ôig sam bith tagradh a dhèanamh a dhol gu sgoil sam bith a tha a’ tairgse FMG. Bidh seo a’ comasachadh ur pàiste a bhith air a theagasg le luchd-obrach speisealta.
Aig an àm seo, chan eil sinn a’ tairgse Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig taobh a-staigh sgoiltean Siorrachd Obar Dheathain. Ach bheir sinn cômhdhail gu sgoiltean ann an ùghdarrasan ionadail eile a tha a’ tairgse foghlam Gàidhlig agus a tha a’ co-phàirteachadh crìoch le Siorrachd Obar Dheathain.
Tha Aonadan Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig Sgoil Gilcomstoun agus Acadamaidh Hazlehead ann am Baile Obar Dheathain.
Mus dèan sibh tagradh
Ma tha sibh ag iarraidh tagradh measaidh airson foghlam Gàidhlig a dhèanamh airson ur pàiste, thoiribh sùil air an stiùireadh do phàrantan air Stiùireadh Reachdail air Foghlam Gàidhlig, a chaidh fhoillseachadh le Bôrd na Gàidhlig, a’ bhuidheann air a bheil dleastanas airson na Gàidhlig. Tha seo a’ toirt foir-shealladh air mar a tha pròiseas a’ mheasaidh ag obair, còmhla ris an fhianais a dh’fheumas sibh a thoirt seachad leis an tagradh agaibh. Tha an stiùireadh cuideachd a’ toirt seachad fiosrachadh coitcheann air mar a tha foghlam Gàidhlig ga lìbhrigeadh an-dràsta ann an Alba.
Mar a dh’iarrar measadh
Faodaidh sibh tagradh measaidh air foghlam Gàidhlig a dhèanamh le bhith a’ cleachdadh nam foirmean air làrach-lìn Riaghaltas na h-Alba. Tha foirmean rim faotainn ann am Beurla agus ann an Gàidhlig.
Feuchaibh gun cuir sibh na foirmean coileanta agaibh do na Seirbheisean Foghlaim is Cùraim-chloinne againn:
Comhairle Siorrachd Obar Dheathain
Seirbheisean Foghlaim is Cùraim-chloinne
Taigh Woodhilll
Rathad Westburn
Obar Dheathain
AB16 5GB
Post-d: education@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Fios a bharrachd
Ma tha ceistean coitcheann agaibh mun phròiseas tagradh measaidh FGB, faodaidh sibh fios a chur gu Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus ma tha ceistean agaibh a thaobh foghlam Gàidhlig, faodaidh sibh fios a chur gu Sgioba Gàidhlig agus Scots Riaghaltas na h-Alba.