Scottish Languages Bill: equality impact assessment

Key Findings

Protected Characteristic of Age

The Bill’s focus on Gaelic medium education will have a greater impact on children of school age, their parents or guardians, and schoolteachers. Its provisions can positively impact these age groups by improving their access to Gaelic medium education.

Within the Scots language provisions of the Bill, the emphasis is also on education, therefore ensuring a greater impact on children of school age, their parents or guardians, and schoolteachers. As with Gaelic medium education, the improved provision of Scots language education in schools will positively impact these groups.

The Bill’s provision to designate Areas of Linguistic Significance is a measure which could enable public bodies to better tackle wider social and economic issues which disproportianately affect young families and people of working age within rural communities. By enabling Gaelic medium education to be better integrated with community learning it can also improve social interaction between generations.

Protected Characteristic of Disability

There is evidence for the unequal provision of additional learning support within Gaelic medium schools compared with the English medium sector. This has resulted in Gaelic medium pupils being disadvantaged or in parents or guardians who wish for their children to receive Gaelic medium education being required to opt for English medium instead.

By placing Gaelic medium education on a strategic basis, the Scottish Languages Bill has the potential to positively impact children with additional learning needs as well as their parents or guardians. Giving Scottish Ministers the power to prescribe standards and requirements for Gaelic education in schools will outline the full extent of provision to which education authorities must work. The Bill requires Scottish Ministers to prepare regulations in consultation with listed interest parties who will better ensure the input of parents, guardians and teachers in prescribing the standards and regulations of Gaelic education. The ability to overcome shortfalls within Gaelic medium or learner education across local authorities is made possible by inserting a new section 6D into the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 and its conferring of a power on Scottish Ministers to give directions to education authorities about the performance of their functions relating to both forms of Gaelic education.

Protected Characteristic of Sex

This policy had no impact on this protected characteristic.

Protected Characteristic of Pregnancy and Maternity

This policy had no impact on this protected characteristic.

Protected Characteristic of Gender Reassignment

This policy had no impact on this protected characteristic.

Protected Characteristic of Sexual Orientation

This policy had no impact on this protected characteristic.

Protected Characteristic of Ethnicity

This policy had no impact on this protected characteristic.

Protected Characteristic of Religion or Belief

This policy had no impact on this protected characteristic.

Protected Characteristic of Marriage or Civil Partnership.

This policy had no impact on this protected characteristic.