A new Scots language course for teachers has been described as a “milestone” for Scottish education that meets a “significant need”.
More than 120 teachers have signed up to a landmark course from the Open University (OU), funded by the Scottish government.
The teachers involved are from across Scotland and specialise in different subjects. They also encompass every stage of school, from the early years through to the senior phase of secondary, and teachers specialising in additional support needs.
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth will launch the course today at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, where authors Graeme Armstrong and Gerda Stevenson will read from their works in Scots and share thoughts on what the OU has described as “an important milestone for Scottish education”.
‘Important step’
Ms Gilruth said: “The course is an important step forward towards embedding Scots language and culture in our classrooms across all levels and subject areas - which is a key part of our commitment to both celebrating and protecting Scotland’s languages.
“It has been encouraging to see the number of teachers already signing up for the course and I look forward to seeing the impact of the course in the months ahead.”
The course comprises a mix of peer learning and guided self-study, adding up to 60 study hours over nine months. A trial was carried out with Banff Academy in Aberdeenshire.
Louise Glen, senior education officer for languages at Education Scotland, said: “This course emphasises the transformative role of Scots in Scottish schools, promoting multilingual classrooms.”
She added that the Banff Academy pilot showed Scots language could be “an asset in pupils’ linguistic repertoire and identity, a tool for inclusive education and a driver for cross-curricular approaches”.
Ms Glen also said that the course enriched the range of CPD available to teachers in Scotland - a “crucial focus for Education Scotland” - and marked a “significant step forward in Scottish education”.
‘Essential’ role of Scots in classrooms
Sylvia Warnecke, senior lecturer in languages at the OU, who led the creation of the course, described it as meeting a “significant need”.
She said: “It’s heartening to see many colleagues working with pupils with additional support needs also on board, especially amid the growing realisation that embedding Scots into Scottish classrooms is an essential equality and inclusion initiative.
“Interest from colleges is encouraging, and we hope to welcome further teachers in the next course intake in September.”
Dr Warnecke added: “We strongly believe that this course will inspire teachers and pupils alike to become leaders in this area of study.”
For the latest Scottish education news, analysis and features delivered directly to your inbox, sign up to Tes magazine’s The Week in Scotland newsletter.
