Work Begins on Scotland’s First Purpose Built Gaelic Medium Primary School

Work began today (Monday) at Inverness on Scotland’s first purpose built Gaelic Medium School. Being built at Slackbuie, near Inverness Royal Academy, the £4 million school will be a focal point for Gaelic learning in the Inverness area, being available for a wide range of Gaelic-related events and performances.

The new school is scheduled to be completed and open by the end of April next year, with the playing fields ready by the end of September. It will feature 7 classrooms and a resource area.  In addition there has been significant discussion with parents and representatives of Gaelic organisations on the facilities to be included in this 21st Century School.  The Council has seen this project as providing an opportunity to work in Partnership to provide a significant facility for Gaelic in the City of Inverness.  The new building will include an enhanced school hall, larger than the usual for a school of this size, and this will be equipped with specialist seating to create a mini venue for Gaelic Cultural events.

In addition there is a small recording studio, a parents room for meetings and classes and accommodation for the Gaelic Community Learning Team which will be based in the new school.  The school will also provide nursery and playgroup facilities which can also be used to provide wrap around childcare for the Gaelic Community in the City.

Four pupils from the Gaelic Medium Unit at Central Primary School, Inverness – Chistina Morrison, Aimee Folan, Innes Taylor and Lewis MacRitchie – helped Matthew MacIver, Chairman of Bòrd na Gàidhlig  the Gaelic Development Agency, to cut the first turfs.

Christina joined Calum Ferguson and Sally Swanson in helping translate into Gaelic the speeches of Bruce Robertson, Director of Education Culture and Sport, and Councillor Andy Anderson, Chairman of the Education Culture and Sport Committee.

Mr MacIver said: "This is a historic day for Inverness and for Gaelic, initiating  the creation of a unique resource for Gaelic education and the wider Gaelic community. Bòrd na Gàidhlig congratulates Highland Council on this splendid achievement, and it looks forward to welcoming similar initiatives across Scotland in the years ahead."

Councillor Andy Anderson, Chairman of the The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee, said: "This is a very special day for me today as we meet to mark the building of the first purpose built Gaelic Community School not just in the Highlands but in Scotland. This project records our commitment to securing the future of the Gaelic language.

"It was five long years ago that we in the Education, Culture and Sport Service met with the School Board, Parents and representatives of the Gaelic Community to discuss the possibility of including a Gaelic School in our second PPP.

"I gave a personal commitment at that time that the Council would deliver this school and that is why I am pleased to be here today.

"I want to thank the head teacher and her staff for being so patient. Only another year and the school will be a reality. I also want to thank the School Board, the parents and all the Gaelic organisations who have supported the Council over the last five years. I very much appreciate the support that has been given to us."

Bruce Robertson, Director of Education Culture and Sport, welcomed guests to the turf cutting "for what is a truly historic occasion".

He said: "This school will not just be about providing for the Gaelic Education needs of pre-school and primary age pupils, but will be a resource for the whole Gaelic community in Inverness, in Highland and across Scotland. A few years ago this would have been no more than a dream but it symbolises the massive steps that have taken place in Highland and across Scotland in Gaelic Medium education."

In the PPP2 Initiative, new secondary schools are being built at Dingwall Academy, Kinlochleven High School, Millburn Academy, Inverness, and Portree High School, which will include a swimming pool, community library and learning centre. Also in the programme is the construction of a new school for pupils with additional support needs in Inverness; the new primary school at Inshes, Inverness, as well as new primary schools at Kinlochleven, Resolis (Cullicudden and Newhall amalgamation), Culbokie and Cawdor.

The 11 schools are being built by Alpha Schools (Highland) Ltd, a consortium of Morrison PLC and Noble Fund Managers.