Gaelic medium education in Scotland: challenges for the 21st century

This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities provided by the continued growth of immersion Gaelic medium education in the Western Isles, the last remaining heartland of the language in Scotland. Gaelic language policies and strategies, both at a national and local level will be evaluated through the eyes of educators, parents and the wider bilingual community in terms of linguistic outcomes and language use. Recent initiatives to support both students and parents of students in Gaelic medium Education will be identified and links to language use ideology explored, and challenges for the education system identified.