All-Gaelic primary school to open in Edinburgh

A new Gaelic primary school is set to open in Edinburgh by 2013, the City of Edinburgh Council has announced.

It will be Edinburgh’s first primary school dedicated to teaching Gaelic, and will open at the site of the former Bonnington Primary School in Leith.

City Education Leader, Councillor Marilyn MacLaren said: “The Council’s decision to go ahead with a dedicated primary Gaelic school, has demonstrated our commitment to investing in young people and communities, during this restrictive economic situation.

“Assuming that consent is granted by the Scottish Government, we will be able to move on with quickly progressing work on site to be ready for the first pupils in 2013.”

Pupils currently in the Gaelic medium stream of Tollcross Primary school will be offered a place in August 2013 at either the new school or in the English stream of Tollcross Primary.

The announcement comes after a 23-year campaign by Gaelic parents in Edinburgh, especially following the success of Gaelic schools in Inverness and Glasgow.

Chair of the Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Arthur Cormack, has applauded the decision of the Council, and congratulated parents on “a tremendous amount of hard work.”

He added: "Bòrd na Gàidhlig has consistently supported the parents of Gaelic medium pupils in their campaign for a standalone Gaelic school.

“Bòrd na Gàidhlig believes Gaelic schools are essential to growing the numbers of pupils in Gaelic education, offering additional opportunities to use the language in the whole school enhancing their fluency in Gaelic.”

Supporters of the school hope it will double the number of Gaelic speakers in Edinburgh over five years, whilst freeing up more places at Tollcross Primary, which, with 221 primary and secondary pupils, has reached its capacity.

$1.8 million of capital funding provided by the Scottish Government allowed the City of Edinburgh Council to provide through “prudential borrowing” the remainder of the £3.53 million needed to establish the school.