EDINBURGH is likely to wait before following Glasgow in establishing a separate all-Gaelic school for primary pupils.
A paper set to be approved by the city’s education committee on February 17 says the position will be reviewed next year to see if there is greater parent demand.
Of 36 responses from questionnaires sent to 50 families with children at the existing Gaelic-
medium unit at Tollcross primary, 31 supported a separate school. But this represents only 54 children and the council insists that there would have to be a minimum of 90-100 pupils.
Glasgow Gelic School opened in September with a roll of 109.
Edinburgh officials stress, however, that the target of 90-100 pupils would be a starting gate and not an automatic trigger for a new school. Councillors are also said to need convincing that a separate school would not encourage elitism, and that it would not require capital investment at the expense of other schools.
In the meantime, the council is to carry out another survey of pre-school parents. There will also be attempts to step up awareness of Edinburgh’s Gaelic provision at all the city’s nurseries.
