Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028 - Update
Perth and Kinross Council · 28 May 2025
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 28 May 2025 and its agenda
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequalities ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Learning and Families Committee Date of Meeting: 28 May 2025 Report Title: Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028 - Update Report Number: 25/134 Report Author: David Macluskey, Strategic Lead – Education and Learning (FBSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk) Organisational Lead: David Macluskey, Strategic Lead – Education and Learning ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an update on progress against the Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028 (Report No. 23/264 refers) which was approved by Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) on 4 October 2023. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendation 3. Background/Context 4. Points for Consideration 5. Conclusion 6. Impact Value Assessment 7. Appendices 2. Recommendation It is recommended that the Learning and Families Committee: 2.1 Reviews the content of the report and notes the progress made to date. 3. Background/Context 3.1 The Council’s third Gaelic Language Plan (2023-2028) was approved by Council on 4 October 2023. It is a statutory plan intended to support the promotion and protection of the Gaelic language in Scotland.
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Implementation of the Plan is jointly monitored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the national Gaelic language agency which formally advises Scottish ministers on matters related to the language, and PKC. Delivery is co-ordinated by PKC. 3.2 The Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028 - Update 2025 (Appendix 1) provides details on the progress made to date on the commitments and actions set out in the Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028 (Appendix 2). These commitments are aligned with The National Gaelic Language Plan and are set out in the Three Pillars of Gaelic: • Using Gaelic We understand that a sustainable future for Gaelic involves increasing the number of Gaelic speakers and increased usage. We aim to encourage more individuals to use Gaelic as their preferred mode of communication in daily life. • Learning Gaelic We aim to provide diverse opportunities for employees, community members, children and young people and parents to learn Gaelic in ways that ensure its thriving presence in Perth and Kinross. Sufficient skilled Gaelic speakers are required to meet the need for arising vacancies and staff opportunities in our organisation, and others, and to meet the need for Gaelic experiences that are informal, and community based. • Promoting Gaelic We will promote the use of Gaelic, its visibility, and its status to make it an integral part of daily life in our region. We will work to create a more positive image for Gaelic and a more significant role for it in the cultural life of Scotland, ensuring its robust future. 4. Points for Consideration 4.1 Due to operational challenges, a few of our commitments are behind timescale. However, the recent appointment of the PKC Gaelic Development Officer in December 2024 has led to accelerated progress since that date and we anticipate continuation of that level of progress. 4.2 The Gaelic in Perthshire Facebook page was relaunched in February 2025 and has had good engagement in its relaunch. 4.3 Since their appointment, the PKC Gaelic Development Officer has been pro- active in building relationships with local Gaelic groups with a view to working collaboratively. 4.4 Bilingual ‘Gaelic in Perthshire’ branding is currently being refreshed and will become ‘Gaelic in Perth & Kinross’ to better reflect the whole of the Council area.
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4.5 A new PKC staff Gaelic network has been established to encourage staff to make the Gaelic language more common in the office by using simple greetings and phrases with colleagues. 4.6 A self-study Gaelic language course has been developed and will be launched in 2025. 4.7 Additional staffing resources has been allocated to the leadership of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in schools. This has created a GME Quality Improvement Network which is more actively participating in our PKC Quality Improvement Framework. This additional resource is improving outcomes for learners. 4.8 A range of events were offered during World Gaelic Week in February 2025. 5. Conclusion 5.1 There is still significant work ahead to ensure that all of the commitments made within the Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028 (Appendix 2) are achieved. However, there has been significant progress in a number of key areas. In terms of GME, the additionality of subject specific teacher leadership has created a much more powerful Quality Improvement Network. 5.2 In a short period of time the recently appointed Gaelic Development Officer has made significant progress against the Plan objectives. In the next stage of the Plan, we will focus more closely on those areas where we need to accelerate our progress. 6. Impact Value Assessment 6.1 The Impact Value Assessment (IVA) undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed on the Perth and Kinross Council website via the link: Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028 - Update 6.2 The Equality and Fairness Impact Assessment (EFIA) undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed in the Equality and Fairness Impact Assessments area of the Perth and Kinross Council website. 7. Appendices 7.1 Appendix 1 – Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028 – Update 2025 7.2 Appendix 2 – Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2028
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