Mu FTMG / About GME
Our vision, values and commitment to Gaelic Medium Education
Rò-ràdh / Introduction
James Gillespie’s High School is the only secondary school in Edinburgh offering Gaelic Medium Education. Our Gaelic Language Policy sets out our commitment to bilingual education, ensuring that Gaelic thrives in both academic and social contexts across our school community.
By integrating Gaelic into our curriculum and school life, we not only enhance language skills but foster a sense of cultural identity and heritage — allowing our young people and GME staff to take pride in their bilingualism and its significance within Scotland’s diverse cultural landscape.
Through the combined efforts of pupils, families, staff, and community partners, our policy ensures that Gaelic education is accessible and effective — a key driver for preserving the language for future generations in Edinburgh and the wider Lothians.
Lèirsinn & Amasan / Vision & Objectives
Our vision is to support the development of bilingualism, to promote Scottish Gaelic language and culture, and to ensure equitable educational opportunities for all students.
We seek to achieve this by:
- Promoting Scottish Gaelic as a vibrant and living language with a rich cultural heritage
- Providing high-quality education in Gaelic
- Fostering bilingualism by continuing to integrate Scottish Gaelic into the curriculum
- Supporting students’ linguistic, cognitive, and social development through bilingual education
- Embedding Gaelic across the whole school
Prionnsabalan Bogaidh / Immersion Principles
Gaelic Medium Education at JGHS is built on the principles of total immersion, with pupils accruing all the benefits of bilingualism. Our approach focuses on six key areas:
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Language Acquisition
We promote natural language learning through exposure, allowing students to acquire Gaelic contextually — extending usage beyond the classroom into the community through partnerships and extra-curricular activities.
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Development of Biliteracy
Our goal is to foster proficiency in both Gaelic and English, developing all Gaelic skills across the curriculum — reading, writing, listening and speaking.
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High-Quality Input
Pupils receive rich, meaningful language input from fluent Gaelic speakers, which enhances comprehension and encourages active use.
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Cultural Relevance
We incorporate cultural education holistically throughout our curriculum, fostering an appreciation for the heritage of the Gaelic language and its speakers.
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Cognitive Engagement
Immersion challenges students intellectually, supporting critical thinking and problem-solving skills in both the target language and their native language.
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Inclusivity & Equity
We provide equal access to quality education for all students, and ensure GME pupils with additional support needs receive appropriate support through the medium of Gaelic.
Cò-bhanntachdan & In-ghabhaltas / Equalities & Inclusion
Historically, schools were a focal point for institutional anti-Gaelic rhetoric and discrimination, rooted in the 1872 Education (Scotland) Act, which introduced compulsory schooling but excluded the teaching of Gaelic — effectively ending non-English medium education and resulting in pupils being punished for speaking their language.
Gaelic Medium Education was not re-established until the 1980s. It is now a popular educational pathway chosen by parents who want their children to embrace bilingualism and reclaim a vital part of Scotland’s history and identity.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive education system that values linguistic diversity. This includes:
- Taking robust action when discriminatory behaviour is reported
- Ensuring inclusion and recognition of Gaelic speakers in whole-school events
- Providing specialist resources in Gaelic
- Creating networking opportunities with other young Gaelic speakers
- Removing any barriers to learning that anti-Gaelic rhetoric may create
UNCRC Article 30
Children belonging to a minority group have the right to share their culture, language and religion with others in that group. Gaelic speakers are members of a recognised linguistic minority, and we are committed to upholding those rights.