Update on activity since the 4th Feb meeting

English below

An dèidh coinneamh na ballrachd a chùm sinn air 4 Gearran gus beachdachadh air molaidhean na Comhairle, chuairtich sinn aithisg a dheasaich a’ chomataidh a bha stèidhichte air na còmhraidhean sin.

An dèidh dhuinn an aithisg sin a chur air adhart gu Comhairle Dhùn Èideann air Dihaoine 7 Gearran, fhuair sinn cuireadh coinneachadh ris na Comhairlichean Ian Perry agus Alison Dickie bho Chomataidh an Fhoghlaim far an do chuir sinn an cèill, aon uair eile, draghan nam pàrant agus am beachd coitcheann nach bu chòir don mholadh a dhol air adhart gu co-chomhairleachadh reachdail.

Gus slighe air adhart a lorg, tha iad air aontachadh buidheann-obrach gheàrr-ùine a stèidheachadh gus sùil a thoirt air draghan nam pàrant agus measadh ceart a dhèanamh air na roghainnean eile a dh’fhaodte taisbeanadh do phàrantan.

Tha sinn an dòchas gun tòisich a’ bhuidheann seo, a bhios a’ toirt a-steach daoine le eòlas air FtG (thathas an dùil) a bharrachd air riochdairean bho phàrantan agus a’ Chomhairle, a’ coinneachadh a dh’aithghearr agus gum bu chòir dhaibh a bhith comasach air aithris air ais taobh a-staigh dà mhìos. Bidh sinn a’ coimhead air dòighean anns am faod pàrantan am beachdan a thoirt a-steach don phròiseas ach cumaibh oirbh a’ cur ur cuid bheachdan chun na comataidh le post-d – cnpduneideann@gmail.com.

English version

Following the members’ meeting we held on 4th February to discuss the council’s proposals we circulated a statement prepared by the committee based on those discussions.

Having forwarded that statement to Edinburgh Council on Friday 7th February, we were invited to meet with Councillors Ian Perry and Alison Dickie of the Education Committee where we reiterated parents’ concerns and the overall view that that the proposal should not go forward to statutory consultation.

In order to find a way forward, they have agreed to the setting up of a short-life working group to look at parents’ concerns and provide a proper assessment of the alternative options which can then be presented again to parents.

We hope that this group, which should include people with expertise in GME as well as representatives from parents and the Council, will begin meeting shortly and that it should be able to report back within two months. We will be looking at ways for parents to feed their views into the process but please continue to email your views to the committee – cnpduneideann@gmail.com.

Comann nam pàrant meeting 4/02/20

We will be holding a meeting for parents and carers of children in GME on Tuesday 4th February 7-9pm at Taobh na Pàirce to discuss Edinburgh Council’s proposals for a Gaelic Secondary School in Edinburgh.

You can find a report of the meeting where the council presented their proposals to parents in the documents section of our blog at https://cnpduneideannblog.wordpress.com/documents/ along with the Council’s presentation and Seonaidh Charity’s presentation.
With the support of Bòrd na Gàidhlig we commissioned research into schools delivering education through the medium of a minority language to help inform the discussion. The interim report is also available on our blog.

Edinburgh Council were asked to assess options against criteria agreed by parents last year. That document is also on the blog.

This is an important meeting and we hope as many of you as possible can attend and have your say on a vital issue for our children and GME in general.

We hope to see you there.

Report from open meeting with Edinburgh Council on 26th August 2019

(English below)

Air Diluain 26 Lùnastal thug Comhairle Dhùn Èideann aithris do phàrantan agus luchd-cùraim cloinne ann an FTG mun adhartas a thaobh leasachadh FTG ann an Dùn Èideann, a’ toirt a-steach fios às ùr mu na h-àiteachan a chaidh a mholadh airson àrd-sgoil. Rinneadh obair mhòr aig ìre bun-sgoile agus àrd-sgoile gus taic a thoirt do leasachadh luchd-obrach agus an clàr-obrach. Bu chòir na leanas a chomharrachadh gu sònraichte:

Tha a-nis 11 tidsear aig Àrd-sgoil Sheumais Ghilleasbuig (JGHS) a tha comasach air cuspairean a lìbhrigeadh sa Ghàidhlig

Tha aon den luchd-obrach aig JGHS air trèanadh Taic a Bharrachd airson Ionnsachadh fhaighinn, agus uime sin a’ lìonadh beàrn mòr.

Bha fòcas làidir air eadar-ghluasad oileanaich C7 an-uiridh gu JGHS agus dh’obraich na tidsearan bhon àrd-sgoil leis na C7s againn an-uiridh gus seo a chuideachadh.

Thathar an dùil dà latha de thrèanadh airson luchd-obrach FTG ann an Dùn Èideann san t-Sultain agus obraichidh iad air dearbh-aithne agus feallsanachd FTG a thogail thar gach sgoil.

Tha e na chùis misneachd an obair seo fhaicinn, a tha riatanach gus bunait a stèidheachadh airson àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig nuair a ghluaiseas i bho JGHS. Ach, bha barrachd ùidh aig mòran de na pàrantan anns an adhartas ann a bhith a’ lorg àite airson na sgoile ùire agus bha an t-adhartas a thaobh seo na bhriseadh dùil.

Gus dèiligeadh ri mar a tha rollaichean ag èirigh aig JGHS tha sia seòmraichean a bharrachd air an toirt a-steach. Thathas ag ùrachadh Darroch (togalach leis a’ Chomhairle faisg air Gilmore Place a chaidh a chleachdadh roimhe mar leas-thogalach airson JGHS) agus thèid a chleachdadh mar leas-phàipear ro 2021. Thèid Darroch a chleachdadh airson cuspairean neo-theicnigeach, le teagasg cuspairean saidheans fhathast ann am prìomh thogalach JGHS.

Dhaingnich Comhairle Dhùn Èideann a-rithist gu robh iad a’ coimhead air dà làrach airson sgoil leatha fhèin, aig Craigmillar agus aig Granton, agus a dhà airson campas co-roinnte a bhiodh a’ toirt a-steach dà sgoil air aon làrach, le cuid de na goireasan air an co-roinn. Chan eil suidheachaidhean an dà sgoile mu dheireadh fhathast air an leigeil mu sgaoil gu poballach fhathast agus cha bhi gus am bi barrachd soilleireachd ann am biodh iad nan roghainnean freagarrach. Gus àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig ùr a bhith deiseil ron Lùnastal 2024, feumar am pròiseas co-chomhairleachaidh a thoirt gu buil ron fhoghar 2020. Tha seo a’ ciallachadh gum feumar co-chomhairleachadh foirmeil a thòiseachadh tràth ann an 2020 a bheir a-steach an t-àite as fheàrr le Comhairle Dhùn Èideann. Feumaidh sinn a bhith ag obair le Comhairle Dhùn Èideann gus buaidh gach àite air a’ choimhearsnachd againn a thuigsinn agus a tha a rèir ar rùintean airson foghlam ar cloinne roimhe sin.

Na bu tràithe air a’ bhliadhna chuir Chomann nam Pàrant Dhùn Èideann (CnPDE) pàipear gu Comhairle Dhùn Èideann a’ mìneachadh prìomhachasan nam pàrant airson àite ùr. Tha am pàipear seo a’ cur an cèill miann nam pàrant airson foghlam bogaidh àrd-sgoile airson an cuid cloinne a leigeadh leotha Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn gu misneachail nuair a bhios iad nan inbhich. Tha e cuideachd seo a’ cur an cèill dòchasan a thaobh com-pàirteachadh coimhearsnachd, farsaingeachd cothroman air gnìomhachdan taobh a-muigh na sgoile, togalach a bheir taic do eòlas foghlaim ann an àite a tha so-ruigsinneach bho air feadh a’ bhaile, le ceanglaichean còmhdhail math.

Leis an fhiosrachadh a thaisbean Comhairle Dhùn Èideann aig a’ choinneimh cha b’ urrainn do phàrantan tuigsinn ciamar a bhiodh seo ag obaair agus cha robh iad soilleir mu dè cho practaigeach ’s a bhiodh na campasan co-roinnte – mar eisimpleir dè na goireasan a bhiodh air an roinn agus dè bha roinneadh làrach a’ ciallachadh airson àireamhan. Tha an roghainn air sgoil air leth mòran nas soilleire agus follaiseach ciamar a bhiodh e a’ freagairt air prìomhachasan phàrantan, ach thuirt Comhairle Dhùn Èideann gum biodh e na bu dhaoire agus gun toireadh e na b’ fhaide agus nach biodh e cho dualtach tighinn gu buil. Air sgàth na dìth soilleireachd seo thàinig grunn cheistean dùbhlanach bho phàrantan agus mì-thoileachas leis an dìth adhartais a dh’ionnsaigh fuasgladh.

Às deidh na coinneimh seo, tha CnPDE air innse do Chomhairle Dhùn Èideann gu bheil feum againn air fiosrachadh nas soilleire gus a dhol an sàs sa phròiseas seo gu cuideachail.

Dealbh soilleir, sgrìobhte air mar a bhiodh co-àrainn ag obair, a tha a’ toirt a-steach fiosrachadh practaigeach a thaobh a bhith a’ roinn àrainn, a’ toirt a-steach mìneachadh air na goireasan a bhiodh air an roinn agus dè bhiodh air leth.

Lèirmheas air gach àite mu choinneimh nam prìomh raointean a bheireadh cothrom beachdachaidh do theaghlaichean FTG agus Comhairle Dhùn Èideann.

English version

On Monday 26th August Edinburgh Council reported back to parents and carers of children in GME on the progress of the development of GME in Edinburgh, including an update on proposed locations for a secondary school.

Across both primary and secondary considerable work has gone into supporting the development of staff and the syllabus. Of particular note are:

There are now 11 teachers at James Gillespie’s High School (JGHS) who can deliver subjects in Gaelic
One of these members of staff at JGHS has received Additional Support for Learning training, thus plugging a significant gap.
There has been a strong focus on the transition of last year’s C7 students into JGHS and the teachers from the secondary worked with our C7s last year to help this.
Two days of training for all GME staff in Edinburgh is planned in September and will work on building the identity and ethos of GME across both schools

This work is encouraging to see and necessary to lay the foundation for a Gaelic secondary school when it moves from JGHS. However, of more interest to many of the parents there was the progress on finding a location for the new school and the progress on this was disappointing.

To cope with rising rolls at JGHS six extra classroom are being established. Darroch (a Council owned building on Gilmore Place that has previously been used as an annex for JGHS) is being refurbished and will be used as an annex by 2021. Darroch will be used for non technical subjects, with the teaching of science subjects remaining in the main JGHS building.

Edinburgh Council confirmed again that they were looking at two sites for a stand alone school, at Craigmillar and at Granton, and two for a shared campus which would involve two schools on one site, with some shared facilities. The locations of the latter two are not yet in the public domain and won’t be until there’s greater clarity over whether they would be potentially acceptable options.

For a new Gaelic secondary school to be up and running by August 2024, the consultation process needs to be completed by autumn 2020. This means that formal consultation will need to begin in early 2020 which will include Edinburgh Council’s preferred location. We will need to work with Edinburgh Council to understand the implications of each location on our community and which is in line with our ambitions for our children’s education in advance of that.

Earlier in the year Comann nam Pàrant Dun Eideann (CnPDE) had submitted to Edinburgh Council a paper outlining parents’ priorities for a new location. This paper covers parents’ desire for an immersive secondary education for their children that would enable them to be confident adult speakers of Gaelic. It also covers hopes for community involvement, rich extra curricular opportunities, a building that can support an educational experience in a location that can support a city wide catchment with good transport links.

With the information Edinburgh Council presented at the meeting parents were unable to understand how this would progress and were unclear about the practicalities of the joint campus options – for example what facilities would be shared and what did sharing a site mean for numbers. A standalone option is much clearer and obvious how it would fit parents’ priorities, but Edinburgh Council intimated that it would be more expensive and potentially take longer and be less likely. This lack of clarity led to several testing questions from parents and expressions of dissatisfaction with the lack of progress towards a solution.

Following this meeting, CnPDE has expressed to Edinburgh Council that we need clearer information to engage constructively in this process.

A clear, written outline of how a joint campus would work that includes information on the practicalities of sharing a campus, including what facilities would be shared and what would be separate.
A review of each location against key areas for consideration for GME families and Edinburgh Council.

To inform this process CnPDE are seeking funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig for research into best practice internationally to help evaluate potential locations for secondary GME.

CNPDE and Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pairce Parent Council representatives will meet with Edinburgh Council this week at the Gaelic Implementation Group to progress all of this. We will keep you informed of any progress on this issue.

Update from GIG, secondary working group meeting and date for meeting with Edinburgh Council

A chàirdean

Summary of June Gaelic Implementation Group (GIG)
Summary of meeting with Donald Macdonald and Gaelic teaching staff at James Gillespie’s High School (JGHS)
Parents’ meeting with EdinburghCouncil regarding a new GME secondary school- Monday 26^th

As we get ready for the summer holidays we wanted to give a brief summary of some of our recent activity as well as give you advance notice of an important meeting early next term.

A full report on the most recent GIG is available on our website. Our working groups have compiled a number of important questions which have been shared with Edinburgh Council. They are considering them and we expect a detailed update from them at the parents’ meeting next term (see point 3).
At the GIG meeting we were advised that Taobh na Pàirce expects to have a full complement of teaching staff by August and, while not all staff will be fluent Gaelic speakers, the aim will continue to be to provide P1-P3 with as close to full immersion as is possible.

We were also advised that work is ongoing to ensure Early Years can continue to cope with growing demand for GME, while also incorporating the increase of Early Years provision from 600 hours to 1140 hours per child from August 2020. Options include offering longer sessions for Early Years, including longer opening times for sgoil-àraich, as well as the possibility of keeping Early Years open during school holidays. Anne MacPhail confirmed that there would be no reduction in places available as a result of changes to Early Years provision.

The Secondary Working Group had a productive meeting with Donald Macdonald, Head Teacher of JGHS, and key members of their GME teaching staff. A full report is available.
Some of the main points included:

There will be at least 10 staff at JGHS delivering subjects in Gaelic from August
For S1, Geography, Modern Studies, History, RME, Art, PE, Media/Drama will be delivered through Gaelic (in addition to Gaelic itself)
There will also be a Science class for S1 that will involve some discussion and teaching in Gaelic.
Some additional subjects are expected to be offered to S2 in August 2019 once timetabling has been finalised.
Considerable work has gone into ensuring the transition from P7 to S1 has been improved.
The Darroch building should be available following refurbishment from 2021. The school hopes that there will be a significant GME focus in the Darroch to create a Gaelic space, though the building will also be used for English-medium classes.

Edinburgh Council is inviting all GME families (or parents and carers ) to an open meeting at 7pm on Monday 26^thAugust at Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce. Edinburgh Council will present information potential locations for a new GME secondary school .
Currently two sites have been identified as potential ‘stand alone’ locations- one in Granton and one in Craigmillar, and two existing secondary schools have been identified as presenting potential joint campus options (these have not yet been made public).

We have presented the Council with the document outlining parents and carers priorities for selecting a suitable location based on open meetings with and feedback from parents and carers.

Have an enjoyable summer holiday

Le dùrachdan

Comann nam Pàrant Dùn Èideann Committee

Report from AGM 22nd May 2019

Ahead of a potentially challenging year for Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in Edinburgh, Comann nam Pàrant (Dun Èideann), the parent representative group which works on behalf of all children in Gaelic education in the city, held its AGM at James Gillespie’s High School on 22^nd May 2019.

With a fresh commitment from the current City of Edinburgh Council (Edinburgh Council) leadership to advance plans for a dedicated GME high school and an expansion of GME provision at every level in the city, alongside the imminent issue of pressure on places at Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce and James Gillespie’s, work must begin now among all parents to secure our sustainable vision for the future and growth of Gaelic education in Edinburgh.

The AGM was well-attended by over 30 parents, which is a welcome sign of the depth of engagement among those whose children will benefit over the coming years. When GME primary education moved from the dedicated unit at Tollcross to Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce in 2013, this change was made possible only by the concerted efforts of the entire parent body at the time.

The move has inspired an unprecedented demand among parents who wish their children to have a GME education, and Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce’s pupil body has grown to a huge extent in the past six years. To take GME in Edinburgh – and the opportunities and quality of education available to our children – to the next level, we ask that all parents make themselves ready for a period of action in the near future.

Edinburgh Council are likely to begin informal consultation on the sites for a new GME secondary and second primary after the summer holidays, and Comann nam Pàrant (Dun Èideann) – on behalf of and in discussion with the entire parent body – must arrive at a position on the options we will be given before formal consultation begins in early 2020.

In order to start this work, Comann nam Pàrant (Dun Èideann) has established working groups of volunteer parents looking at specific issues surrounding the current and future state of GME in Edinburgh. At the AGM each working group gave a preliminary report on their own area of interest, and we advise all parents who wish to know more about the in-depth issues facing GME to read the reports from our Primary/Early Years, Secondary and Education groups here.

In addition, there was a report from the Communication group, while Fiona Stephen gave a verbal report on the work of the national body Comann nam Pàrant Nàiseanta. In the immediate term, Comann nam Pàrant (Dun Èideann) will continue to engage with CEC, informally and through the council’s Gaelic Implementation Group (GIG), while we hope the council will also appoint a Gaelic Development Officer as a matter of urgency.

Changes in office bearers and committee members for the coming year were also agreed at the AGM. Stepping down with our deepest thanks were treasurer Wilma Laird, secretary Beverly Finnegan and convener Brian Thunder, and the AGM noted the considerable work the outgoing committee has done to secure meaningful engagement with the council and to improve our internal organisation.

In their place, Kevin Leetion was elected as convenor, Marianne O’Loughlin as secretary and Orla Hobson as treasurer.

Minutes from the AGM are available here.

We have a busy year ahead, with key decisions to be taken to provide the best environment for our children and to ensure that GME can continue to grow. We will need parents to be involved and to let their voices be heard to make this happen, and we intend to provide new opportunities for engagement and discussion amongst all concerned during the next school term.

How to follow and engage with us at Comann nam Pàrant (Dun Èideann):

Blog: https://cnpduneideannblog.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CnPEdinburgh/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnpedinburghPlease do get in touch with any comments or suggestions, or to be added to our mailing list, at cnpduneideann@gmail.com.

Reminder of next AGM: 22nd May 2019

Reminder and Venue Confirmation

Comann nam Pàrant Open Meeting for all GME Families on Current Developments in GME / AGM

Wednesday 22nd May @ 7pm
Venue Library James Gillespie’s High School

All parents/ carers with children in GME are invited to attend an open meeting on current developments in GME.

Representatives from each of the four Comann nam Pàrant working groups ; Early Years/ Primary, Secondary, Communications and Education groups who are engaged in the current GME expansion and improvement project will present progress reports.

These progress reports will form the basis for our ongoing involvement in GME development via Edinburgh Council Gaelic Implementation Group (GIG). This meeting represents an opportunity for parents and carers to have their views included in this process.

Following the updates from working groups we will hold our Annual General Meeting.
The main business of this meeting will be the election of a new committee and office bearers

please contact the committee via cnpduneideann@gmail.com

An ath AGM: 22mh Ceitean 2019

A chuir an cuimhne agus dearbhadh àite

Coinneamh Fhosgailte Chomann nam Pàrant airson a h-Uile Teaghlach FtG air Leasachaidhean as Ùire ann am FtG / Coinneamh Bhliadhnail

Diciadain 22 Cèitean aig 7f
Àite; An Leabharlann Àrd-sgoil Sheumais Ghilleasbaig

Bidh fàilte ron a h-uile pàrant / neach-cùraim le clann ann am FtG aig coinneamh fhosgailte mu naleasachaidhean as ùire ann am FtG.

Cluinnear aithrisean adhartais bho riochdairean bho na ceithir buidhnean obrach aig Comann nam Pàrant a tha an sàs anns a’ phròiseact leudachadh agus leasachadh FtG an-dràsta: na buidhnean Tràth-bhliadhnaichean / Bun-sgoile, Àrd-sgoile, Conaltraidh agus Foghlaim.

Bidh na h-aithrisean adhartais sin mar bhunait airson ar com-pàirteachas leantainneach ann an leasachadh FTG tron Bhuidheann Buileachaidh Gàidhlig aig Comhairle Dhùn Èideann (BCG).Tha a’ choinneamh seo a’ toirt cothrom do phàrantan agus luchd-cùraim am beachdan a thoirt a-steach dhan phròiseas seo.

An dèidh nan ùrachaidhean fiosrachaidh bhon buidhnean-obrach bidh sinn a’ cumail ar Coinneamh Bhliadhnail. Is e prìomh ghnìomh na coinneimh seo taghadh comataidh ùr agus oifigearan.

Cuir fios chun a ’chomataidh aig cnpduneideann@gmail.com

Open Meeting for all GME Families on Current Developments in GME / AGM: Wednesday 22nd May

Comann nam Pàrant Open Meeting for all GME Families on Current Developments in GME / AGM

Wednesday 22nd May @ 7pm

Venue TBC

All parents/ carers with children in GME are invited to attend an open meeting on current developments in GME.

Following the updates from working groups we will hold our Annual General Meeting.

The main business of this meeting will be the election of a new committee and office bearers

please contact the committee via cnpduneideann@gmail.com

Coinneamh Fhosgailte do theaghlaichean FMG: 22mh An Cèitean

Coinneamh Fhosgailte do Theaghlaichean FMG: Current Developments in GME / AGM

Diciadain 22mh An Cèitean @ 7pm

Venue TBC

Mar phàrantan sgoilearan ann am FtG, tha fàilte chridheil romhaibh a tighinn gu Coinneamh Fhosgailte airson a bruidhinn mu leasachaidhean làithreach.

Bidh riochdairean bho fear de na ceithir buidheann de Chomann nam Pàrant (Dùn Èideann) ann: Tràth-bhliadhnaichean/Bun Sgoil, Ard Sgoil, Conaltradh agus Foghlam. Bidh iad uile a ’taisbeanadh progress reports.

Bidh na aithisg comataidh seo a deanamh bun-stèidh airson a dol air adhart ag obiar le Edinburgh Council Gaelic Implementation Group (GIG). Seo cothrom airson na beachdan agaibh a nochdadh, a bheir buaidh mhòr air na tha an dàn do FMG ann an Dùn Èideann san àm ri teachd.

As dèidh na updates, cumaidh sinn ar AGM. Is e adhbhar na coinneimh seo a taghadh comataidh agus office bearers ur.

Mas e ’s nach tèid agad air a bhith an làthair air na coinneamh, chuireamaid fàilte air ur beachdan co-dhiù. Nach cuirthuais-bheachdan, molaidhean, ceistean is eile chun na comataidh air cnpduneideann@gmail.com

Fiosrachadh às ùr: Nòtaichean bhon choinneamh air 20mh Màrt 2019

Tha notaichean bhon choinneamh air an 20mh den Màrt 2019 mu dhedhinn ’Expansion Project’ a-nis air luchdachadh a-nuas bho an roinn ‘Documents’ air an làrach-lìn seo.

Nuair a tha thu a ’leughadh an notaichean seo, cuimhnich gur e seo na notaichean (seach geàrr-chunntasan) a chaidh a sgriobhadh sios aig a’ choinneimh agus mar sin tha iad a sgrìobhainn deasbaid an àite sgrìobhainn co-dhùnaidh.

Tha iad nan clàr de bheachdan air an oidhche agus mar sin, bi e coltach gu bhith na cuimsean is amasan anns an àm ri teachd air atharrachadh.