Visit the Gaelic version of this page at A’ leasachadh feallsanachd dheimhinneach Ghàidhlig san Sgoil air Fad aig Àrd-sgoil Greenfaulds

Improvement questions

• Do all members of our school’s community have a positive and inclusive attitude to the Gaelic language and to those who speak and are learning the language?
• Do all children in Gaelic & English Medium provisions (when together in the one school), have an opportunity to learn about Gaelic language, culture and heritage as part of Scotland’s identity?
• What does equality and equity look like for the children and young people in Gaelic Medium Education?
• The General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Professional Standards apply in English Medium Education and Gaelic Medium Education, with four bespoke references to Gaelic across standards. How will you ensure these references are embedded in your setting?

Explore this exemplar

What was done?

• Greenfaulds High School developed a Gaelic-positive whole school ethos through effective leadership, planning and partnership working.
• The Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team developed their understanding of the impact of Gaelic Medium Education across the whole school. They recognised their role was pivotal in securing the best outcomes for young people and for Gaelic within the local authority and at national level. They increased Gaelic’s prominence within the school and the understanding of the whole staff in terms of Gaelic Medium Education as an intrinsic part of the school and Scottish Education.
• The school’s improvement planning incorporates whole school targets for Gaelic Medium Education. Whole school assemblies are used to celebrate success in Gaelic Medium Education and Gaelic Learner Education has been developed to support this ethos. School Leaders ensure that all staff understand the principles and purpose of Gaelic Medium Education and that Gaelic is a core function of the school.
• The School Leadership Team, working in partnership with the Local Authority, established a Principal Teacher of Gaelic post to lead on curriculum development. This Middle Leadership role has supported the Headteacher in improving Gaelic Medium Education and they work together to further explore opportunities to develop and support Gaelic Education across the school. The school also integrated Gaelic into the design of its new building ensuring that bilingual signage was included from the outset.

Why was it done?

• Greenfaulds High School is the secondary school hub for Gaelic Education in North Lanarkshire and over 100 learners are educated in Gaelic Medium Education. Inspection in 2018 recognised several strengths regarding the high level of commitment of staff and many other aspects of Gaelic Education but also identified some areas for development in terms of ethos.
• The findings established, and the school recognised, that there was more to be done to ensure Gaelic ethos was more tangible across the whole school. This would help support young people’s immersion and their own understanding of the rationale for their immersion and bilingualism, therefore supporting them to continue in Gaelic Medium Education.
• In taking forward feedback from inspection, the school needed to embed the development of the Principal Teacher role to give Gaelic a higher level of recognition within the school and to meet the requirements of the Statutory Guidance on Gaelic Education and the Advice on Gaelic Education to meet the needs of their young people in Gaelic Medium Education.

Impact

• The young people in Gaelic Medium Education feel integrated into the whole school community. This has impacted positively on already enthusiastic learning and positive relationships with staff. Many young people take an active role in the school and wider community through using Gaelic.
• Greenfaulds High School has used a variety of environmental methods to strengthen its Gaelic-positive ethos across the whole school. This is evident on first entering the school, with the prominence of bilingual signage which is consistently visible throughout the school building, as well as corridor murals in Gaelic. Gaelic, and its use by young people, is given a high profile in whole-school and public events such as Her Majesty The Queen’s visit in Summer 2019.
• Staff involved in Gaelic Education feel valued, supported and able to focus on strategic aims for the development of Gaelic. They show a high standard of professionalism in providing a range of opportunities for young people to learn through the medium of Gaelic. The Principal Teacher role has supported the expansion of the curriculum offer.
• The whole staff are highly conscious of the importance and nature of Gaelic Medium Education. The Senior Leadership Team are enthused and celebrate the success of Gaelic Medium Education both within the school and in wider networks. They use their work in Gaelic Medium Education to help inform developments in English Medium Education.
• The Gaelic-positive ethos has contributed to the school’s development of their Gaelic Medium Education curriculum with the expansion of both the subject offer and immersion opportunities beyond the classroom.

​Videos

Greenfaulds HS Creating A Gaelic positive Ethos (short version)

Greenfaulds HS Creating A Gaelic positive Ethos (extended version)

Useful information

Greenfaulds High School (glowscotland.org.uk)

PDF file: Greeenfaulds High School School Improvement Plan (glowscotland.org.uk) (29 KB)

Advice on Gaelic Education/ Comhairle mu Fhoghlam Gàidhlig | Self-evaluation | National Improvement Hub

What Scotland Learned | Scotland Learns | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)

How good is our school? - HGIOS 4 | Self-evaluation | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)

How good is our CLD | HGIOCLD | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)