Aberdeenshire Council's Education, Learning and Leisure Service recently secured a three-year grant from the Scottish Government to take forward policies within the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act and develop a Gaelic Educational Policy.

The funding has allowed the council to appoint a teacher of Gaelic to encourage the use of the language in schools and will also aid implementation of Gaelic language policies throughout the education service.

Fiona took up her new post in August and as the second term draws to a close she has been quickly settling into her new role.

As well as teaching pupils how to speak, read and write in Gaelic, the newly-appointed teacher also covers the origins and culture of the language.

Hill Of Banchory Primary School is the base for Fiona, who has been traveling around Donside and Deeside this term to teach 17 pupils from four secondary schools and 150 pupils from four primary schools.

A total of 13 primary schools in Donside and Deeside and more than 450 pupils will benefit from her expertise in the academic year 08/09.
"Not only am I teaching Gaidhlig but also the historic, geographic and cultural background of the language, and its relevance within the modern context.

"I'm currently involved in setting up a development project in collaboration with the headteacher of Ballater Primary School and local history group to teach the children about the history and the meaning of the abundance of Gaelic place names in their own area. Their project will then be on display at a community Gàidhlig day in Ballater at end of March 2009."