Head Teacher Appointed to new Gaelic Primary School in Inverness

The Highland Council has appointed Mrs Janet MacLeod, head teacher of Sleat Primary School, Skye, as head teacher of the new Gaelic Medium Primary School, Inverness, which is due to open in the summer of next year. Mrs MacLeod will take up her new duties early in the new year.

She taught business studies at Inverness Royal Academy and Plockton High School before moving to teach at Sleat Primary School in 1989.  She has been head teacher there since 1994. Between January 2004 and June this year, she was seconded to Learning and Teaching Scotland as a development officer.

The £4 million Gaelic Primary School is under construction at Slackbuie, Inverness – neighbouring Inverness Royal Academy. When completed, it will be Scotland’s first purpose built Gaelic Medium Primary School. It is one of 11 schools being built by the Council under a Public Private Partnership Programme.

The new 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. It will feature seven 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 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.

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Please find below, Gaelic version of Press Release

Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air a’ Bh-Uas Seònaid NicLeòid, ceannard Bun-sgoil Shlèite san Eilean Sgitheanach, fhastadh mar cheannard air an Sgoil Ghàidhlig ann an Inbhir Nis.  Tha dùil gum fosgail an sgoil as t-samhradh an-ath-bhliadhna.Tòisichidh A’ Bh-Uas. NicLeòid san dreuchd ùir tràth sa bhliadhn’ ùir. 

Chleachd i bhith a’ teagasg Eòlas Gnothachais ann an Acadamaidh Rìoghail Inbhir Nis agus ann an Àrd-sgoil A’ Phluic mus do thòisich i ann am Bun-sgoil Shlèite ann an 1989. Tha i air a bhith na ceannard an sin bho 1994. Eadar Am Faoilleach 2004 agus An t-Òg-mhìos am bliadhna, bha i air chùmhnant aig Ionnsachadh is Teagasg na h-Alba mar oifigear leasachaidh. 

Tha a’ Bhun-sgoil Ghàidhlig, luach £4 millean, ga togail an-dràsta ann an Slag Buidhe, Inbhir Nis – an taobh thall de dh’ Acadamaidh Rìoghail Inbhir Nis. Nuair a bhios i deiseil, ’s i a’ chiad Bhun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a bhios ann an Alba a thogadh a dh’ aon ghnothaich. Seo tè de 11 sgoil a tha a’ Chomhairle a’ togail  fo Phrògram Caidreachais Poblach is Prìobhaideach. 

Bidh an sgoil ùr nam meadhan airson Gàidhlig ionnsachadh ann an Inbhir Nis. Bidh i ri faotainn airson iomadh cùis is taibeanadh co-cheangailte ris a’ Ghàidhlig. Bidh seachd seòmraichean teagaisg agus seòmar ghoireasan innte. A bharrachd air an sin, tha còmhraidhean air a bhith ann ri pàrantan agus riochdairean nam buidhnean Gàidhlig air na goireasan a bu chòir a bhith ann an sgoil san 21mh linn. Bidh talla-sgoile nas motha na an àbhaist san sgoil ùir agus bidh i uidheamaichte le suidheachain shònraichte mar ionad beag airson cùisean cultarail Gàidhlig a chur air adhart. Bidh cuideachd stiùidio clàraidh beag innte, seòmar phàrantan airson chlasaichean is choinneamhan agus àite do Sgioba Foghlam Coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig a bhios stèidhte san sgoil ùir. Bidh goiresasan cròileagain agus sgoil-àraich cuideachd innte a dh’fhaodas làn chùram cloinne a lìbhrigeadh do choimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig sa bhaile. 

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