Gaelic Language Plan 2024-2029 - Update
Perth and Kinross Council · 27 May 2026
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 27 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Learning and Families Committee Date of meeting: 27 May 2026 Report Title: Gaelic Language Plan 2024-2029 – Update Report Number: 26/139 Report Author: Fiona Waddell – Gaelic Development Officer (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 2024-2029, which was previously known as 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.
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3. Background/Context 3.1 The Council’s third Gaelic Language Plan (2023-2028) was approved by Council on 4 October 2023 and subsequently renamed to 'Gaelic Language Plan (2024-2029) following approval from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.' It is a statutory plan intended to support the promotion and protection of the Gaelic language in Scotland. 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 2024-2029 - Update 2026 (Appendix 1) provides details on the progress made to date on the commitments and actions set out in the Gaelic Language Plan 2024-2029 (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 A main focus of the past year has been to establish a sustainable pathway for adult Gaelic learning within Perth & Kinross. This has been achieved via an 8-week face-to-face short course for adult beginners which has taken place at various locations around Perth and Kinross, and a self-study programme based around an established national course that will be permanently on offer, with no fixed start or end date.
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Signposting is available for adults looking for alternative ways to learn, as well as for adults beyond the lower intermediate stage. 4.2 The PKC Gaelic Development Officer has continued proactive work to build relationships with local Gaelic groups and other organisations with an interest in Gaelic, resulting in a number of collaborative projects. Additionally, work is ongoing to encourage and support local communities to develop their own self-sustaining Gaelic groups, and the short courses have proved useful in establishing new micro-communities of Gaelic learners who can potentially continue their Gaelic learning journey together. 4.3 A network of volunteer ‘Gaelic ambassadors’ from Perth and Kinross communities has been established with an aspiration to grow and develop this team during the lifetime of the Plan. Involving local communities in Gaelic development and empowering them to develop sustainable Gaelic groups themselves is seen as a key way to enhance and strengthen our wider Gaelic community in Perth and Kinross. 4.4 Funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig was successfully applied for to help provide opportunities for people to use their Gaelic through natural conversation in a public setting. There have been some operational delays in getting these conversation groups up and running, but it is hoped that these will form a key element of the next year’s progress update. Funding was also received to deliver guided hill walks to uncover Gaelic in the Perthshire landscape. 4.5 The relaunched Gaelic in Perthshire Facebook page has continued to gain followers, and has been extremely active throughout the year in raising awareness of Gaelic activities within Perth and Kinross and neighbouring areas. The page has also been active in posting to Perth and Kinross community pages to further raise awareness amongst the wider community that isn’t already engaged with Gaelic. A new Perth and Kinross Gaelic network mailing list has been established and continues to grow, enabling us to reach people who don’t use social media. 4.6 Both Cròileagan Gaelic playgroups in Perth City and Aberfeldy continue to operate successfully, with regular attendance by families. Breadalbane Academy continues to offer an immersive Gaelic nursery, and there are plans to strengthen Gaelic immersion opportunities at Goodlyburn Primary School nursery in academic year 2026-27. Gaelic Medium Education (GME) primary classes continue to provide a wide range of cultural, linguistic, and leadership opportunities for children, enabling them to further develop and embed their Gaelic language skills.
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GME secondary provision continues to develop young people’s linguistic ability in Gaelic and their cultural awareness through well-planned learning activities and extra-curricular opportunities. 4.7 A range of well attended events was offered during World Gaelic Week in February 2026. 5. Conclusion 5.1 The Gaelic Language Plan 2024-2029 - Update 2026 reflects a renewed momentum in our Gaelic language aspirations following the arrival of a new Gaelic Development Officer. There has been significant progress in a number of key areas, particularly in the Adult Learning Pathway, and in building community connections to enhance our Gaelic network. The continuation of subject specific teacher leadership to support quality improvement in Early Learning and Childcare, primary and secondary GME has strengthened our educational offering. 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. (The IVA references the original title of the plan, as mentioned in 3.1 above.) 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. (The EFIA references the original title of the plan, as mentioned in 3.1 above.) 7. Appendices 7.1 Appendix 1 – Gaelic Language Plan 2024-2029 – Update 2026 7.2 Appendix 2 – Gaelic Language Plan 2024-2029 7.3 Appendix 3 - Plana Gàidhlig 2024-2029