Council to consult on Gaelic medium provision at Skye school

Members of the Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee yesterday (Thursday, 16 September 2024) agreed that a statutory consultation be undertaken on converting Staffin Primary School into Gaelic medium school with an English medium unit.

Committee members were informed that as at August 2024 there were 25 Gaelic medium pupils and 5 English pupils enrolled at Staffin primary School and that the proposed change is supported by both English and Gaelic medium pupils.

Ron MacKenzie, Highland Council's Head of Support Services with the Education, Culture and Sport Service outlined some of the educational and community benefits of the proposal including:

* providing increased opportunities to develop the Gaelic language both within the environs of the school and outwith in the wider community;
* increased numbers of participants involved in the development of the Gaelic language and culture within communities;
* the provision of extra-curricular activities in Gaelic; and
* an emerging pride in the language of the school resulting in it being more likely to be used in settings outside of the classroom such as the playground, dining areas and assemblies.

The statutory consultation will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Schools Consultation (Scotland) Act 2024. The consultation period, which will last for 6 weeks, will be advertised in the local press within the next few weeks.