Sporan – Supporting Gaelic Learners L2/ L3

Sporan is a service offered to Second Level pupils in Scottish primary schools learning Gaelic as an additional language.  Sporan productions are delivered through Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s education service Fèisgoil which is funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Creative Scotland.

We cannot take every production to every school but we try our best to fit in as many schools as we can within each tour and to visit different local authorities each year.

Sporan 2025/26: Na Fuadaichean (The Clearances)

Sporan visited schools in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross-shire this year as several schools in North Highland begin our Blasad Gàidhlig service, learning Gaelic as an additional language through Fèisgoil.

This year’s topic covered the impact of the Clearances on Gaelic in the area, but focused on the evidence we have that Gaelic was once alive and thriving in that area through maps and place-name evidence.

Educational Resources

Links to educational resources relating to the workshop, can be found below:

Sporan 2024/25: O Mo Chlach! (O My Stone!)

In support of primary schools learning Gaelic as an additional language, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s drama service for young Gaelic learners, Sporan, will visit schools in Argyll and Highland during the week 9-14 September as part of the Blas Festival schools’ programme. We are delighted to be visiting rural and island schools this year to support them with their language learning.

This year’s Sporan project takes the form of an interactive storytelling and drama workshop based on Clach Sgàin – The Stone of Scone or the Stone of Destiny – which was recently moved from Edinburgh Castle to Perth Museum.  Participating pupils will learn a little of its origin story as well as the effort to return it to Scotland in 1950.

Educational resources

Links to educational resources relating to the workshop, can be found below:

Fèisean nan Gàidheal · O Mo Chlach! Backing Track

Sporan 2023/24: The Mountain Song: Duncan Bàn

In September, primary school pupils learning Gaelic as an additional language (L2 or L3) had the opportunity to participate in an interactive drama workshop as part of a tour which took place between the 4th and 18th September. Titled ‘The Mountain Song: Duncan Bàn‘ pupils learned about the life of Duncan Bàn MacIntyre, one of Scotland’s most well known Gaelic poets and in particular his love of nature. A song praising the Highlands was taught as part of the workshop and links to educational resources related to the workshop including the lyrics for the song and links to audio files of the music for the song can be found below.

Educational resources

Links to educational resources relating to the workshop, can be found below:

Sporan 2022/2023: Tilley Tales

In 2022 primary school pupils learning Gaelic as an additional language (L2 or L3) were given the opportunity to watch a performance of Sgeulachdan an Tilley (Tilley Tales), when it went on tour with actors Fergus Munro and Peter MacPherson between 7 and 18 November. The play, based on traditional Gaelic stories, taught key vocabulary to children relating to the stories, and the play was very well received!

“This is the best thing I have ever done in school.” – P6 pupil, Craighill Primary

School Resources

Links to educational resources relating to the play, suitable for pupils P5-7, can be found below:

Sporan 2021/ 2022: Mo Bheannachd Ort!

2021/22’s Sporan project was based on the life of Saint Columba. Mo Bheannachd Ort!, a Gaelic language film about the Saint, was produced this year through our Gaelic medium theatre-in-education project and in 2022 a version of the film with English subtitles was offered to school groups learning Gaelic as an additional language. A drama workshop based on Saint Columba was also offered to participating schools.

School Resources

Twinkl Resources for Schools related to Saint Columba

Sporan 2018/ 2019: Fuadach nan Gàidheal (The Highland Clearances)

Interactive workshop Fuadach nan Gàidheal (The Highland Clearances) was aimed at primary school pupils between P5 and P7 learning Gaelic as an additional language.

Drama Officer Angus MacLeod developed and toured the workshop in primary schools in the Inverness and Ross-shire area during September 2018.   In the workshop the pupils learned about the impact of the Clearances on the people of the Highlands and the Gaelic language and culture and while doing so they had the opportunity to learn some Gaelic words and phrases.

The workshop featured a beautiful handmade tapestry especially made for the tour.  The colourful tapestry combines a variety of references to the Highland Clearances and was created by Lizzie McDougall of The Highland Story Quilts.

The tour was delivered through Fèisean nan Gaidheal’s Fèisgoil education service and featured as part of the Blas Festival’s Schools and Communities Programme.

Creative Scotland The Scottish Government Bòrd na Gaidhlig Highland Council Argyll & Bute Council William Grant Foundation We are a Living Wage Employer