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5. Career Development

5.1 Converting Existing Teachers

5.1.1 There is a shortage of Gaelic teachers at all levels. However, the recent statistics issued by the Scottish Executive has helped to focus some attention on those who could teach through the medium of Gaelic but, at present, do not. In the most recent figures 253 primary teachers say they would be able to teach through the medium of Gaelic and 159 are currently teaching through the medium of Gaelic. At secondary level the figures are 112 able to teach in Gaelic and 44 currently teaching through the medium of Gaelic.

5.1.2 For this reason the Group was interested in ways in which they could target teachers who can speak Gaelic but currently do not teach in the language. There is a need to identify and offer support to those who might be in this category and may be uncomfortable or uncertain about teaching in Gaelic.

5.1.3 The Group felt that further information on the particular Gaelic language skills of those not teaching in Gaelic medium may be required. It may be possible that some teachers who might be interested in transferring may have a measure of language deficit and could also benefit from an initial language course to improve their linguistic skills.

5.1.4 The Group noted that the course being developed by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig ( SMO) and Aberdeen would address much of this perceived need, both in terms of languages skills and subject expertise in Gaelic. The Group felt that there were other issues that might need to be addressed in terms of incentives or what benefits could be offered to teachers to retrain.

5.1.5 A course to assist Gaelic speakers to transfer to Gaelic medium teaching had been available at SMO from 1999. There were several factors which had led to a limited uptake of the course. The course is now being made available electronically for secondary subject specialists. The course is currently being developed, with a view to mixed-mode delivery in January 2006. The course consists of three modules: Language Development, Enhancement of Subject Specialism and Professional Reflection. The course aims to increase the confidence of teachers who are involved in delivery of, or may be encouraged to deliver, their subject specialism in Gaelic medium.

5.1.6 This course is being developed to assist secondary teachers to transfer to Gaelic medium teaching but its modules could be adapted to assist primary teachers also. The Group felt that this would be a positive move and that this course should be made available for primary teachers as well as secondary teachers to assist those who may be interested in transferring.

5.2 Promotion Opportunities

5.2.1 The Group noted that a career in Gaelic medium teaching should be regarded as an attractive option and one of the elements in this had to be the opportunity for a career pathway. A lack of career pathways for teachers has sometimes been cited as a disincentive to a career in Gaelic medium education. There were some positive signs in this area and the present structures have provided opportunities where they might not have existed before. For example the framework of the Teachers Package for the 21st Century could be utilised to provide a clearer path for career development for Gaelic teachers.

5.2.2 There should be no obstacle to Gaelic medium teachers being considered for the new role of principal teachers in Scottish primary schools. This should be seriously considered as an option for management within a group of schools and for the creation of principal teachers in Gaelic Curriculum for Primary Clusters. Authorities should be able to put this in place under present arrangements.

5.2.3 This would begin to offer a career structure and a management structure in which Gaelic medium teachers as principal teachers could have specific roles in authorities. In secondary schools Gaelic language now comes into School Faculties of Languages. It would also be possible for a Gaelic teacher to be principal teacher in such a faculty. There are examples of this already in some areas of the country. The role of principal teacher should not be exclusive to Gaelic language teachers; Gaelic medium subject specialists should also be eligible for promotion to such posts.

5.2.4 It is expected that the Chartered Teacher programme will be reviewed soon and the proposed review should seek to address the needs of Gaelic teachers. This may lead to the inclusion of a module for Gaelic teachers. The possibility of a Gaelic module being included in the Standard for Charter and Standard for Leadership should be explored when possible. Local authorities already have an important role in providing continuing professional development for teachers and, where possible, should collaborate in providing Gaelic medium teachers in one authority with the opportunity to attend suitable Gaelic CPD events in another authority. Learning and Teaching Scotland, with Gaelic-on-line and A'Chuisle, also have an important role in this area.

5.3 Gaelic Language in the Primary School ( GLPS)

5.3.1 The Scottish Executive has supported GLPS since 2001. GLPS is very similar to the more widely delivered Modern Languages in the Primary School programme and a number of authorities are taking this forward. The GLPS course offers 20 days of training to primary teachers to assist them to offer Gaelic language in primary classrooms. GLPS has been reviewed by the Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching and both numbers and teacher responses were commended. The Executive provides some specific support for GLPS and the Scottish Executive's Languages Fund can also be used for this purpose.

5.3.2 Argyll and Bute piloted a training programme for primary teachers that enabled them to support GLPS in the classroom. Highland Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and a consortium of authorities also offer GLPS (Stirling, East Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, North Lanarkshire) with Argyll and Bute providing the tutor and the training materials are now published by Storlann. Some other authorities have shown an interest in participating in GLPS.

5.3.3 The course has been very successful and has helped to embed the teaching of GLPS in many primary schools. From this secure base it should help to promote the provision of Gaelic as a language in secondary schools. Since 2001 a total of 35 teachers have received GLPS training in the consortium and the Group wishes to express its strong support for the continuation and expansion of GLPS courses.

5.4 Future GLPS Developments

5.4.1 Aberdeen University proposes to develop a course which aims to increase the number of teachers involved in promoting the Gaelic language and the number of pupils involved in learning it. The course will enable primary teachers, currently in their profession, who have completed the 20 day GLPS programme to develop further their knowledge of Gaelic language and their skills in delivering the 5-14 Gaelic learners curriculum with confidence to pupils in upper primary and lower secondary. The target groups are primary and secondary teachers who have the equivalent of GLPS and who wish to teach Gaelic to learners in primary and S1/S2.

5.4.2 This course, which Aberdeen is developing, would enable teachers to deliver and assess the entire 5-14 curriculum and, with increased experience and confidence, to deliver at Standard Grade level. This development also aims to provide an opportunity for those teachers who are interested in undertaking a postgraduate element to do so. This additional element will be recognised within the PG Masters in Education and recognised by the GTCS as a possible level 2 qualification within the Continuing Professional Development framework for teachers. The Group wishes to commend Aberdeen for this development and support the future development of these courses.

Recommendations:

• Local authorities should identify and encourage Gaelic speaking teachers to transfer to Gaelic medium and assist them with relevant training.
• The Executive should continue to support Sabhal Mòr Ostaig's course, which would assist teachers to transfer to Gaelic medium, and this should be extended to primary teachers.
• Local authorities should collaborate in providing Gaelic medium teachers in one authority with the opportunity to attend suitable Gaelic CPD events in another authority.
• Learning and Teaching Scotland, with Gaelic-on-line, should seek to support Gaelic medium teachers in their professional development.
• Authorities should seek to provide promotion opportunities for Gaelic medium teachers at primary and secondary by considering them for appointment as principal teachers and heads of faculty where appropriate.
• The Group expects Local Authorities with GLPS to support the Aberdeen University course, and the Scottish Executive should support the development of Aberdeen's GLPS courses for teachers.
• The Scottish Executive's Language Fund should continue to support GLPS.

Gaelic Teachers' Action Group

Number ofPupils in Gaelic Medium Education Primary 1985-6 to 2004-5

Source: University of Strathclyde/Comunn na Gaidhlig 2005

Number ofGaelic Medium Primary Units 1985-2005

Source: University of Strathclyde/Comunn na Gaidhlig 2005

Primary and Secondary Gaelic Medium Graduates in Scotland 1997-98 to 2004-05

Source: University of Strathclyde/University of Aberdeen 2005/ GTC Scotland 1999

Graduates from Northern College/University of Aberdeen 97-98 to 04-05

Source: University of Aberdeen 2005

Graduates from University of Strathclyde 97-98 to 04-05

Source: University of Strathclyde 2005

*6 from Off-Campus Route: 3 Lews CastleCollege, 3 Inverness College

Primary Teachers by ability to teach in Gaelic and Age, 2004

Source: Scottish Executive 2005

Secondary Teachers by ability to teach in Gaelic and Age, 2004

Source: Scottish Executive 2005

Secondary Teachers by GTC Registered Subject and ability to teach in Gaelic, 2004

Source: Scottish Executive 2005

Primary Teachers by ability to teach in Gaelic and Local Authority, 2004

Source: Scottish Executive 2005

Secondary Teachers by ability to teach in Gaelic and Local Authority, 2004

Source: Scottish Executive 2005

Primary Teachers able to teach GME Primary, 2004

Source: Scottish Executive 2005

Secondary Teachers able to teach through Gaelic, 2004

Source: Scottish Executive 2005

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