Section 2

ATTAINMENT OUTCOMES AND TARGETS

Introduction

The attainment targets are based on three stages in the learning of Gaelic: Elementary, Intermediate and Level E. These represent levels of attainment and are not directly related to age or school level since, in the primary school in particular, pupils will begin to learn Gaelic at different points and the amount and nature of their experience of it will vary. The attainment targets represent stages of increasing communicative competence. Progress will reflect the various starting points and assume an adequate amount of time for learning and teaching. The later the start the more intensive the programme: for example teachers of pupils beginning Gaelic in S1 might plan to enable most pupils to achieve Level E by the end of S2. Pupils starting Gaelic early in the primary school might, for example, overtake Level E in P6 or P7. In some circumstances pupils and teachers may opt to progress to programmes and attainment targets for fluent speakers of Gaelic.

For pupils who have attained Level E before the end of S2, work in Gaelic should continue in a progressive and systematic fashion. The aim of this work will be to develop skills in Gaelic such that pupils, for example, will:

show confidence in meeting the language requirements of Level E within an enlarged range of topic areas and contexts;

understand and use language with some grasp of idiomatic expressions;

begin to show initiative and be much less dependent on adult help and prompting than hitherto.

Level E targets for learners are not equivalent to Level E in the attainment targets for Gaelic medium teaching.

Further guidance on language activities for learners of Gaelic beyond Level E is to be found in Part 3.