Glasgow Gaelic School?

[magbags]

I got chatting to a fellow mum in the doctor's surgery today who has her daughter at the Gaelic School. She was very positive about it and her daughter seemed beautifully behaved. My dd is due to start P1 in August, school not yet decided. Would you recommend the Gaelic School for parents who only speak English? Is homework difficult to manage in a second language? Please let me know your experiences of the school, good or bad. Also is it true all kids are collected on a bus?

[AitchTwoOh]

there are quite a few threads on the school in this section, so have a look around, some good, some bad. i have a child in p1, all positive so far. she went to the nursery for a while as well, and we now go to classes to learn the language. it's a commitment, it looks like, but not a bad thing in itself to be seen to commit to education imo.

and there is a bus for people living 1.2 miles away and more. hallelujah.

[magbags]

Thanks Aitch, will check out the other threads. The website for the school seems to be in Gaelic so forgive me for checking, are there school fees involved?

[AitchTwoOh]

no no, it's a cooncil school. i'm sure other people will be along soon, but the other threads will help you along.

[darleneconnor]

[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/local_glasgow/1084354-Gaidhlig-School-Mums-can-i-ask-for-some-advice here]
and
[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/language_bilingualism/154556-gaelic-education-anyone here]

are a couple of threads on the subject

yes, there is a free bus, but it isn't available if you use the after school club

the capacity is increasing to 125 per year from 2012 so there must be some reason for such a popularity spurt

[AitchTwoOh]

yes, it went from two classes to three in primary one last year. it's been exponential year on year, i believe.

[magbags]

So really growing in popularity, that is a positive sign. Thanks for the link Darlene. I phoned the school today to make an appointment, was (stupidly) a bit thrown when the lady answered in Gaelic!

[prettybird]

There are plans to build a new Gaelic medium primary school (attached to an "ordinary" primary school) on the south side of Glasgow, so that the younger kids from the south side don't have to travel so far.

Glasgow City Council won funding from the Scottish Futures Fund (I think that wass the name) and it's due to be completed 2012/2013. That is, if it goes ahead with all the funding cuts of course. (having said that, the primary school it would be attached to is itself absolutely bursting at the seams, as are the neighbouroughing primary schools, so a new school needs be built)

[darleneconnor]

is it Glendale that it is getting attached to?

[prettybird]

Yes :)

[MacMam]

Where will the teachers come from, given the struggle the current school has getting staff? Especially supply with Gaidhlig?

[magbags]

Do they start with teaching the basics in P1, colours etc - Im guessing they must do? Would there be a big disadvantage to dd not attending the Gaelic nursery do you think? She is settled where she is (loves nursery) although I do like the idea of letting her make friends before school. Really looking forward to seeing the school now.

[AitchTwoOh]

bring her to the saturday morning classes, then. come along too, and do the beginners class. (although you have missed a term nearly so you might have to do some extra reading).

[AitchTwoOh]

any glasgow cooncil tax payer, afaia.

differnt classes for different stages, beginners, post beginners, intermediate etc. meanwhile the kids are playing in a creche with cb checked 'big girls', hallelujah. coffee and biscuits are provided, it's a snip at £2 per class if you are alone, a fiver if you take children into the creche.

there is also a BRILLIANT family learning week in the summer, pretty much the same format full days for a whole week. a crash course for the adults, while the kids really get to muck around with all their new pals, get to play in the playground, eat lunch in the lunchroom etc. took away a lot of dd1's anxieties regarding starting school.

[prettybird]

They might stop paying for the transport if the Southside school is closer/walkable.

But if a child has already started at the main school, I would hope that they wouldn't expect them to move.

[darleneconnor]

I went to the induction at the nursery class today.

The deputy head was emphasising the need for parents to also learn gaelic.

She also said that a place at the nursery didn't guarantee a place in the school, which I was quite shocked at. Maybe she just had to say that to cover for unforeseen eventualities.

The nursery seemed great, magbags maybe your DD coould go to the afternoon sessions after January or April?

[AitchTwoOh]

they said that to us as well, but i don't know of anyone that wanted to get in and didn't.

[magbags]

Thanks Darlene. Am a bit dissapointed that nobody called me back from the school (as arranged) to make an appointment. Not a great first impression. I'll give them another call tomorrow to try and arrange to see round. Dd currently in nursery 3 whole days so I could possibly ask about one or two afternoons yeah, good idea.

I chatted to dd over dinner tonight about the school / about Gaelic and she seemed quite keen - mostly because the uniform is red right enough . She has done some Spanish lessons before and retained what she learned really well so she understands the concept of different languages at least.

[weegiemum]

I have a child in p6, qnother in p4 and another in p3 at the Gaelic school!

Fabulous!!!

If you can get your kids in there, do it. It is a brilliant provision and I have 3 kids who are Tri lingual (due to Spanish lessons and you shoudl hve heard them speaking it in the summer!), musical (accordion, piano, violin) and LOVING school!

DO it if you can get them in. Its harder these days if you didn't go to the nursery or have a real connection to Gaelic, but I would say give it a try. I will never regret it!

[darleneconnor]

At the thing today the woman said they really want the children in for the full 5 sessions, otherwise they dont pick up enough.

The sessional set-up completly excludes working parents so hopefully that will change in the future.

The pm sessions are 12.45-3.45.

She said if you want to start P1 without going to the nursery you should really go to the sat am class (has a creche).

[AitchTwoOh]

they have just changed the creche provision so that it only takes 3 and up. which is just STUPID, so many p1s have a younger sib attached.

[darleneconnor]

Yes, if they are making attendance almost compulsory then they should be providing proper childcare.

What agedoes the creche go up to? I have an English-medium educated child too. Id there any way for older siblings to get lessons?

[magbags]

Just heard back from the school and have made appointment .

Yes, the lady I spoke to said they would strongly recommend min 3 nursery sessions which we won't be able to do. I agree that they also have to be practical for working parents. Maybe the Saturday class is the way forward.

Weegiemum wow how fantastic. Did you have any Gaelic before your oldest started? I started out just thinking about trying to find a school with a nice nurturing feel but am quite excited about the prospect of a bilingual education now.

[magbags]

Have downloaded a learn Gaelic app onto my phone which is fantastic! We've all been having a go and it even let's you record yourself so you can listen back and try and improve. We've got "hello" and "orange" sussed .

[kirmcc]

just want to say please think very carefully before you send your kids to the school- and if you have your doubts at the start please don't ignore them. when my dd went into p1 i wasn't entirely sure i was making the right decision but her love of the language made me think it was the right decision. Now shes in p3 and i'm taking her out of the school:(