Scottish Borders Council senior councillors have agreed that a Gaelic primary school could open next summer in Peeblesshire, with 13 pupils initially expected in a single class, subject to the Scottish government agreeing to fund the project. The council wants the government to provide at least 75% of funding on an ongoing basis. The school would be the first Gaelic medium primary in the region, where fewer than 500 people can speak, read and write the language.
The school is expected to cost £190,000 to set up and is estimated to require an annual revenue budget of £210,000. Scottish Borders Council currently employs no Gaelic-speaking teachers and would need to recruit them over the coming months.
The move follows a request for primary education from a family in the Peeblesshire area, where a Gaelic-speaking nursery already operates, last summer. Under the Education (Scotland) Act 2016, parents have a legal right to request that an assessment is carried out. A region-wide consultation found that families representing 24 pre-school-aged children expressed interest in their child starting primary education in a Gaelic-speaking school over the next five years. If the school is established by next summer, 13 pupils could attend from the start of the 2027/28 academic year. They would be taught all lessons in Gaelic, with English introduced in primary four.
Scottish Conservative councillor Jenny Linehan described the decision as “absurd”. She said: “There's no reason that Gaelic can't be taught in schools like other languages, but not an immersive education that is going to cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds.” She argued the investment did not make sense in the Borders, saying she understood why it was required in the Highlands and Islands, where Gaelic is widely spoken, but not in the Borders.
Julie Pirone, also part of the Conservative-led administration, said she wanted an assurance that the Scottish government would guarantee at least five years of funding. “I would hate for us to introduce Gaelic medium primary education only for it to be taken away through a lack of funding,” she said. While she agreed to the principle, she had concerns over the provision for a very small number of children and noted pressures on the council, including making sure nurseries and small schools are supported when facing falling roll numbers.
SNP councillor Marshall Douglas strongly advocated for the new facility. "It is vital that we have this facility for parents that have asked for it," he said. "Gaelic is a national language of Scotland and there should not be any division of where we speak it. For Gaelic to survive it needs to be a national language and available everywhere."
The proposal has support from Education Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and parents group Comann nam Pàrant.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: "Gaelic is an official, national language of Scotland and we want to see many more children able to learn through Gaelic. We therefore welcome Scottish Borders Council's decision in principle to open Gaelic medium education classes." The spokesperson added that local authorities are responsible for providing Gaelic medium education and that the government supports councils through a Gaelic-specific grant, and would continue to engage with the council.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- For families in the Scottish Borders seeking Gaelic-medium education, the school would provide a local option for the first time, potentially allowing their children to be educated through Gaelic without moving.
- The decision continues a national expansion of Gaelic medium education, now in 17 of 32 council areas with over 60 schools, as part of Scottish government efforts to revitalise the language.
- The debate between cost and cultural preservation may influence how other councils with low Gaelic-speaking populations approach parental requests under the 2016 Act.
Background
Gaelic is an official language of Scotland, most commonly spoken in the Highlands and Western Isles. The latest census found 409 people in the Scottish Borders can speak, read and write Gaelic (0.35% of the population). The Education (Scotland) Act 2016 gives parents a legal right to request Gaelic medium primary education, requiring councils to assess demand. Seventeen of Scotland's 32 local authorities now offer such education, with more than 60 primary schools providing it.
Key Perspectives
Jenny Linehan (Scottish Conservative councillor): Called the decision "absurd", arguing that Gaelic can be taught in schools like other languages without the expense of immersive education, and that the investment does not make sense in the Borders where Gaelic is not widely spoken.
Julie Pirone (also part of the Conservative-led administration): Supported the principle but wanted assurance of at least five years of Scottish government funding, and expressed concerns over providing for a very small number of children amid other council budget pressures from falling roll numbers.
Marshall Douglas (SNP councillor): Strong advocate for the school, arguing it is vital for parents who requested it and that Gaelic needs to be available everywhere as a national language to survive.
Scottish government: Welcomed the council's decision in principle, reaffirmed support through the Gaelic-specific grant, and said it wants to see more children learning through Gaelic.
Education Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comann nam Pàrant: Supported the introduction of Gaelic medium primary education in the Borders.
What to Watch
- Whether the Scottish government agrees to the council's request for at least 75% ongoing funding, and for how long.
- The outcome of the recruitment drive for Gaelic-speaking teachers in a region that currently has none.
- The actual number of pupils who enrol when the school opens, and whether demand grows over the five-year period indicated by the consultation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA Gaelic school for 13 pupils could open in Peeblesshire next summer, conditional on Scottish government funding.BBC Scotland: “Senior councillors have agreed that the school could open next summer on the condition that the Scottish government agrees to fund the project. Five pupils in primary one and eight in primary two are initially expected to attend the single-class school in Peeblesshire.”
- SupportedThe school would be the first Gaelic-medium primary provision in the Scottish Borders.BBC Scotland: “Education Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and parents group Comann nam Pàrant have all supported the introduction of Gaelic medium primary education being introduced in the Borders.”
- SupportedThe council wants the Scottish government to provide at least 75% of funding on an ongoing basis.BBC Scotland: “The council wants the Scottish government to provide at least 75% of funding on an ongoing basis.”
- SupportedSetting up the school is expected to cost £190,000.BBC Scotland: “It is expected to cost £190,000 to set up”
- SupportedThe school is estimated to need an annual revenue budget of £210,000.BBC Scotland: “it is estimated to require an annual revenue budget of £210,000.”
- SupportedFewer than 500 people in the region can speak, read and write Gaelic.BBC Scotland: “A new Gaelic primary school could open in the Scottish Borders where fewer than 500 people speak, read and write the language.”
- SupportedA region-wide consultation found interest from families representing 24 pre-school-aged children in starting Gaelic primary education over the next five years.BBC Scotland: “A region-wide consultation found that families representing a total of 24 pre-school-aged children expressed an interest in their child starting primary education in a Gaelic-speaking school over the next five years.”
- SupportedIf established by next summer, 13 pupils could attend from the start of the 2027/28 academic year.BBC Scotland: “According to the survey, if the P1-3 school was established by next summer, 13 pupils could be attending at the start of the 2027/28 academic year.”
- SupportedJenny Linehan said: “There's no reason that Gaelic can't be taught in schools like other languages, but not an immersive education that is going to cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds.”BBC Scotland: “She said: "There's no reason that Gaelic can't be taught in schools like other languages, but not an immersive education that is going to cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds."”
- SupportedJulie Pirone said: “I would hate for us to introduce Gaelic medium primary education only for it to be taken away through a lack of funding.”BBC Scotland: “"I would hate for us to introduce Gaelic medium primary education only for it to be taken away through a lack of funding," she said.”
- SupportedMarshall Douglas said: “It is vital that we have this facility for parents that have asked for it. Gaelic is a national language of Scotland and there should not be any division of where we speak it. For Gaelic to survive it needs to be a national language and available everywhere.”BBC Scotland: “He said: "It is vital that we have this facility for parents that have asked for it. "Gaelic is a national language of Scotland and there should not be any division of where we speak it. "For Gaelic to survive it needs to be a national language and available everywhere."”
- SupportedA Scottish government spokesperson said: “Gaelic is an official, national language of Scotland and we want to see many more children able to learn through Gaelic. We therefore welcome Scottish Borders Council's decision in principle to open Gaelic medium education classes.”BBC Scotland: “A Scottish government spokesperson said: "Gaelic is an official, national language of Scotland and we want to see many more children able to learn through Gaelic. "We therefore welcome Scottish Borders Council's decision in principle to open Gaelic medium education classes.”