Senior councillors in the Scottish Borders have agreed in principle to establish the region's first Gaelic-medium primary school, which could welcome its first cohort of pupils in the 2027/28 academic year. The single-class facility would initially serve five pupils in primary one and eight in primary two, with all lessons taught through the medium of Gaelic before English is introduced in primary four. According to BBC News, the school's opening is conditional on the Scottish government agreeing to fund the project.
The proposal represents a significant expansion of Gaelic education in an area where the language has limited presence. Scottish Borders Council confirmed on 5 November 2026 that councillors backed the establishment of the Borders' first Gaelic-medium primary class in the Tweeddale area in 2027, subject to staffing and funding conditions being met.
The most recent census data indicates that only 409 people in the Scottish Borders can speak, read and write Gaelic—approximately 0.35% of the overall population. A further 1,500 residents report having some knowledge of the language, which remains more commonly spoken in the Highlands and Western Isles. Despite this limited existing speaker base, a region-wide consultation found substantial interest among families with young children.
How did the proposal emerge?
A family in the Peeblesshire area, where a Gaelic-speaking nursery already operates, approached Scottish Borders Council in summer 2025 to request primary education in the language. Under the Education (Scotland) Act 2016, parents have a legal right to request that an assessment is carried out. Eighteen families representing 24 children confirmed their interest in the provision, meeting the statutory threshold for considering a new service.
The council's assessment process identified strong support from educational bodies. The council's November 2025 assessment records that Education Scotland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig supported establishing Gaelic-medium primary education from August 2026, while identifying the need to assess locations, staffing and admissions. Education Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and parents group Comann nam Pàrant have all publicly supported the introduction of Gaelic medium primary education in the Borders.
What are the financial implications?
The council estimates that establishing the school will cost £190,000 in initial setup expenses, with an annual revenue budget of £210,000 required to operate the facility. Scottish Borders Council has requested that the Scottish government provide at least 75% of funding on an ongoing basis. Conservative councillor Julie Pirone expressed concerns about long-term sustainability, stating:
I would hate for us to introduce Gaelic medium primary education only for it to be taken away through a lack of funding. While I agree to Gaelic medium primary education in principle, I do have concerns over the provision being for a very small number of children.She added that the council must balance this investment against other pressures, including support for nurseries and small schools facing declining enrolment.
What staffing challenges exist?
A significant obstacle to opening the school is the absence of qualified Gaelic-speaking teachers on the council's payroll. Scottish Borders Council does not currently employ any teachers who speak Gaelic, necessitating a recruitment drive over the coming months. The council will need to identify and hire staff with appropriate qualifications before the school can open.
What are the arguments for and against?
Support for the proposal has come from SNP councillor Marshall Douglas, who emphasised the principle of linguistic equality. He said:
It is vital that we have this facility for parents that have asked for it. Gaelic is a national language of Scotland and there should not be any division of where we speak it. For Gaelic to survive it needs to be a national language and available everywhere.
Opposition has centred on cost and practicality. Scottish Conservative councillor Jenny Linehan described the decision as
absurd, arguing that
There's no reason that Gaelic can't be taught in schools like other languages, but not an immersive education that is going to cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds. I understand why it is required in the Highlands and Islands where it is widely spoken but not here in the Borders. It just doesn't make sense to be spending so much money on this for a handful of pupils.
How does this fit into Scotland's broader Gaelic education landscape?
The Scottish Borders proposal reflects a wider expansion of Gaelic medium education across Scotland. Seventeen of the country's 32 local authorities now offer Gaelic medium primary education, with the number of primary schools providing such provision exceeding 60 across the nation. Before this proposal, Borders families whose placing requests to neighbouring local authorities succeeded could receive council-provided transport to Gaelic-medium education, but establishing a local facility would eliminate this requirement.
The Scottish government has signalled its support for the initiative. A Scottish government spokesperson stated:
Gaelic is an official, national language of Scotland and we want to see many more children able to learn through Gaelic. We therefore welcome Scottish Borders Council's decision in principle to open Gaelic medium education classes. Local authorities are responsible for providing Gaelic medium education in their areas. The Scottish government supports councils through the Gaelic-specific grant and will continue to engage with Scottish Borders Council about this.
What happens next?
The council will now focus on recruiting suitably qualified staff and securing confirmation of ongoing Scottish Government funding. The council aims to welcome the first pupils late in 2027, pending successful completion of these preparatory steps. The project's success will depend on resolving both the staffing challenge and securing the necessary financial commitment from the Scottish government on a long-term basis.
Key Facts
- Only 409 people in the Scottish Borders can speak, read and write Gaelic, representing 0.35% of the population
- Initial enrolment is projected at 13 pupils across primary one to three, taught entirely in Gaelic with English introduced in primary four
- Setup costs are estimated at £190,000 with annual operating costs of £210,000, with the council seeking 75% Scottish government funding
- Seventeen of Scotland's 32 local authorities now offer Gaelic medium primary education, with over 60 primary schools providing such provision nationally
- The council currently employs no Gaelic-speaking teachers and must undertake recruitment before the school can open
