First Gaelic school is in a class of its own

A RISING school roll has prompted the opening of two new classrooms at Scotland’s first purpose-built Gaelic school.

Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, the Gaelic school in Inverness, was formally opened by the First Minister Alex Salmond in January 2008 with more than 150 pupils.

The current roll is 154 primary pupils with 43 in the nursery and a further 27 children enrolled.

The school is one of a number in the Highlands that was built through the Public Private Partnership Initiative. When it opened it had seven classrooms and one nursery room.

In its second year a sharp rise in pupil intake led to one of the spare classrooms becoming a second nursery room and it was decided an extension was needed.

The new units, costing £700,000, were opened by Gaelic minister Dr Alasdair Allan, who also opened a new Gaelic medium education unit at Glenurquhart School at Drumnadrochit.

The minister also announced that Highland Council will receive an additional £5,000 from the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Schools Capital Fund.