Gaelic school paused to look at other options

PLANS TO CREATE a dedicated Gaelic high school in Edinburgh have been put on pause as parents urged the council to consider further options .

The City of Edinburgh Council’s long-running proposals to establish a Gaelic Medium Education (GME) secondary school and two additional primary units were due to be approved for statutory consultation. A report to the Education, Children and Families Committee explained plans to build a standalone school on the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital would no longer be possible, as The Scottish Government was still to confirm if the land on Craigleith Road is available for use.

Instead two options are being considered - a GME secondary school on a shared campus with the replacement Liberton High School, or on the existing Castlebrae High School site. News that plans for a central, standalone high school have been effectively scrapped led parents of children in Gaelic education to call on the committee to vote against proceeding with the consultation as was recommended by officers.

The consultation would involve parents, Education Scotland and The Scottish Government.

Orla Hobson, treasurer of Gaelic parents association Comann nam Pàrant, told councillors: “Our overarching message to you is this: Take the time to develop a coherent plan for GME with realistic timescales that parents can have confidence in and can help you deliver, undertake much greater meaningful engagement with families and create a proposal which is in the best interests of GME children and of GME itself.”

Education Convener, Cllr Ian Perry, said: “We’re setting up a new secondary school and there are a lot of challenges in that, but what we cannot lose sight of is the education we’re trying to provide. We think that to pause this just now and give you, the parents and the council further opportunity to discuss both the educational benefits and the available site would be beneficial both to yourselves