· Improve student fluency and literacy skills in Gaelic

· To widen student appreciation of the historical and contemporary impact of Gaelic on Scotland both socially and economically

· To deepen student understanding of Gaelic culture and community

· To broaden a sense of self-identity and belonging and to take pride in their ability as Gaelic speakers

· A stronger understanding of the benefits of bilingualism

· Creating strong ties within the school, local and wider community

· To promote confidence, curiosity and independence.

Throughout the broad general education, pupils will develop their skills through a range of activities such as the study of novels, poetry and drama, creative writing, presentations and projects. Course content includes a mixture of traditional contexts such as the news, emigration, community and folklore but also includes more modern contexts such as celebrities and the media, the cyber-world and adventure tourism.

The following courses are currently available to pupils in the senior phase:

· N4/5 Gàidhlig – Students will further develop their ability to write creatively and discursively in Gaelic. Students will also spend more time developing their ability to critically evaluate and analyse more sophisticated Gaelic texts and literature. There will also be lots of opportunity for learners to develop their creation and production skills by engaging in oral presentations and independent research projects.

· Higher Gàidhlig – Building on from the skills developed at N5, learners will continue to build on their repertoire of Gaelic texts and understanding of the impact that literary features have on the reader and the text as a whole. Students will engage with a wide range of texts to ensure that they possess the necessary vocabulary so that they can fully understand texts delivered in various contexts and registers.

· Advanced Higher Gàidhlig – Through the AH course learners will spend time developing their translation and interpretational skills. These skills are vital for those considering careers whereby more than one language is required. Learners will also engage in an in-depth, personal research paper on a subject of their choosing.

· Gaelic: Languages for Work Purposes (N4) – This course is designed for learners and newcomers to the language. The course aims to provide learners with the skills required to find, apply for and interview in Gaelic. On completion of this unit of work, learners will be able to understand simple texts, write a work application/CV and hold a basic interview in Gaelic.

It is important that students are given as many opportunities as is possible to use Gaelic outside of the classroom. Students will be given the opportunity to take part in the Gaelic Schools National Debating competition which is held in Stornoway each year. Guest speakers are often invited to come and speak to the pupils in order to highlight the extent to which Gaelic may be able to serve them as individuals. The Gaelic department also has strong links to several outside agencies in areas ranging from the arts to media, and from politics to community development, and these are used extensively in order to provide a Gaelic experience outwith the school environment.