Providing opportunities for immersive Gaelic learning at Sgoil an t-Òib - Leverhulme Memorial School

Fluent Futures at Sgoil an t-Òib

Sgoil an t-Òib - is a Gàidhlig - Gaelic status school in the village of Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris. The school offers Gaelic Learner and Medium Education. The education authority ensure that all children enrol in Gàidhlig Medium Education at the primary school.

If they wish, parents may request that their children enrol in English Medium Education at P1. The school also has Gàidhlig only pre-school provision, Sgoil-Àraich, where all children are immersed in Gaelic.

At the time of inspection, the school had a roll of 15 children. All children reside in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation decile 5.

The improvement issue

Staff recognised the importance of providing children with more opportunities to use Gàidhlig in meaningful ways beyond the classroom. Staff evidenced that children were making good progress in their learning. However, they identified that children needed more practise in using their Gàidhlig language skills in real-life situations to help develop a deep connection to local culture, community and the natural environment.

Staff identified the need to strengthen links with Gàidhlig organisations, local businesses, environmental groups, and members of the wider community. In building these partnerships staff hoped to create learning experiences that support immersion, are relevant, engaging and rooted in the area’s unique heritage. The focus was to:

• build children’s confidence and fluency in Gàidhlig
• connect learning directly to the local community, environment, culture, and economy
• support smooth transitions and raise aspirations for life beyond school
• establish the school as a hub where language, culture, and sustainability flourish.

What Sgoil an t-Òib did

Staff developed a range of strong, purposeful partnerships with Community Learning and Development (CLD), the Marine Conservation Society, local fishermen and Borve Lodge estate to help enrich children’s learning, promote wellbeing, and strengthen Gàidhlig language development. Staff carefully planned partnership activities, sharing learning aims in advance. This enabled partners to actively support children’s learning, progress and Gàidhlig fluency.

Children benefited from a wide range of planned experiences.

• The children from the sgoil-àraich visited the local shop weekly to buy snacks and use their Gàidhlig in a real-life context within the community. From an early age, this helped children to develop a sense of purpose for using and immersing themselves in Gàidhlig.
• The children celebrate cultural events that showcase local traditions, for example local and National Mòd and Dìleab project. The Dìleab programme ensures that children in the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar engage with aspects of language, culture, music and drama. This programme matches appropriately with the experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence. This is a well-planned, in-depth study of major historical milestones in the history of the local community.
• Environmental projects were linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Children worked with Borve Lodge estate and a scientist to be part of a project monitoring climate change through taking temperatures in the intertidal zone. Outdoor learning and sustainability were woven throughout the curriculum, helping children understand their role as global citizens.
• Children organised armchair athletics for the older citizens in the nearby care home. They engaged with them using Gàidhlig conversation. This helped the children to appreciate and respect the older generation, while sustaining local Gàidhlig dialect.
• Children have worked with former pupils and staff of Sgoil an t-Òib to archive the history of their school through interviews, research and films. They also assisted with a highly successful exhibition that featured on BBC Alba.

Local craftspeople, organisations such as Comunn na Gàidhlig (CNAG), CLD, and international visitors regularly share their skills and expertise with children. This builds children’s very specialised vocabulary and retains skills and traditions unique to the island. For example, local craftspeople teach fishing net repair and make products using traditional, locally produced tweed. Teachers keep Gàidhlig central in partnerships, supporting vocabulary, communication, and simultaneous translation needs.

As a result, children are gaining confidence, pride in Gàidhlig culture, and developing deep connections to community heritage. Children see Gàidhlig as valuable, both now and for future local employment opportunities.

What the sustained impact has been

Over time, staff have built a strong culture of Gaelic, community engagement, and learning that extends beyond the classroom. Children have grown into confident speakers of Gàidhlig who value their heritage and take pride in their local identity. This collaborative approach strengthens transitions for children and raises their aspirations. It positions the school as a cultural hub rooted in island identity. It supports children to actively contribute to the life of their island and beyond.

A strong Gàidhlig language ethos underpins the school’s work. Staff ensure consistent collaboration with Gaelic organisations and community speakers. Children’s fluency in language skills, confidence and pride in Gàidhlig have increased markedly. Inter-generational projects and heritage activities support cultural preservation, helping to safeguard local stories, dialects and traditions while reinforcing community identity.

Close links with CLD and secondary school staff have ensured positive transitions for children. Support provided during transition to secondary school gives children the confidence and security they need as they move to secondary. Ongoing partnerships with environmental organisations have promoted environmental stewardship, inspiring children to take practical action to protect their local landscape.

School staff’s engagement with visitors, professionals, politicians and global networks has broadened children’s horizons. This has helped to expand children’s understanding of democracy, citizenship and future opportunities. Children take on leadership roles and responsibility by organising events, leading activities and contributing to exhibitions. They are developing independence and key life skills.

Sgoil an t-Òib has become a centre for community cohesion, strengthening connections across generations and reinforcing shared cultural values. A sustained focus on outdoor learning builds resilience, nurtures appreciation of nature and teaches practical skills like growing food and environmental care.

A long-term, strategic approach is showing how authentic partnerships can enrich language, culture, citizenship and environmental awareness. It is creating a lasting impact for children, families and the wider island community.

Gaelic version of this report

Cothroman airson bogadh Gàidhlig aig Sgoil an t-Òib Fluent Futures aig Sgoil an t-Òib (Word)