Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce (English: Parkside Primary School, referring to the adjoining Pilrig Park) is a Gaelic medium

primary school A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. Administered by

the City of Edinburgh Council The City of Edinburgh Council (Scottish Gaelic: ''Comhairle Baile Dhùn Èideann'') is the local government authority covering the City of Edinburgh council area. Almost half of the council area is the built-up area of Edinburgh, capital of Sco ...

, the school is open to any parents in the city or surrounding areas who wish to have their children learn and be educated through

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

. The opening of Edinburgh's first dedicated Gaelic school on 16 August 2013, after many years of campaigning by parents and supporters, was hailed as a "landmark day" for the Scottish capital. Situated in the south of the district (and former municipal

burgh A burgh ( ) is an Autonomy, autonomous municipal corporation in Scotland, usually a city, town, or toun in Scots language, Scots. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when David I of Scotland, King David I created ...

) of

Leith Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith. The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...

, Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce is housed in the refurbished former Bonnington Primary School building. The original 2-storey T-shaped school was built between 1875 and 1877 to the plans of James Simpson (1832-1894), then architect of the Leith School Board, and subsequently extended in 1907 by Simpson's old apprentice and eventual successor, George Craig (1852-1928). Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce has a pupil roll of 418 pupils across 16 classes, as well as provision for a 40:40 Nursery. The school originated in the highly successful Gaelic unit within Tollcross Primary School. The unit opened in 1988 as a single class with seven children and subsequently grew in size and stature. The majority of children in Gaelic-medium education at Tollcross Primary School transferred to Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce at its opening. The school feeds into

James Gillespie's High School James Gillespie's High School (Scottish Gaelic: Àrd-sgoil Sheumais Ghilleasbuig) is a state-funded secondary school in Marchmont, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a comprehensive high school, educating pupils between the ages of 11 and 18, situated at ...

, which has a Gaelic language unit for 120 pupils, for Secondary education. The City of Edinburgh Council are currently considering options for a replacement, standalone Gaelic Medium secondary school. Sites which have been considered include on a shared campus with

Liberton High School Liberton High School is a secondary school in Liberton, Scotland, Liberton, in the south of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is located on Gilmerton Road. The school roll for the 2022–23 academic year was 846. Liberton High School has had certain g ...

or on vacated sites at the former Lothian and Borders Police headquarters in Fettes Avenue or the Royal Victoria Hospital in

Craigleith Craigleith () is a small island in the Firth of Forth off North Berwick in East Lothian, Scotland. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic ''Creag Lìte'' meaning "rock of Leith". It is at its highest point. Geography and geology Craigleith is ...

References

External links

Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce - school website
Primary schools in Edinburgh Scottish Gaelic education 2013 establishments in Scotland Educational institutions established in 2013 Listed schools in Scotland Category C listed buildings in Edinburgh School buildings completed in 1877 {{Scotland-school-stub

See also

References

External links