Search Legislation

Scottish Languages Act 2025

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Please note:

All reference to 'Parts' and 'sections' are from the Scottish Languages Act 2025. For other versions of these Explanatory Notes, see More Resources.

  1. Introduction

  2. Crown Application

  3. Overview of the Act

  4. Commentary on Provisions

    1. Part 1: Gaelic

      1. Chapter 1: Support for the Gaelic language

        1. Section 1: Status of the Gaelic language

        2. Section 2: Functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig

        3. Section 3: Bòrd na Gàidhlig corporate plan

        4. Section 4: Areas of linguistic significance

        5. Section 5: National Gaelic language strategy

        6. Section 6: Gaelic language standards

        7. Section 7: Functions of relevant public authorities

        8. Section 8: Reporting on national Gaelic language strategy, standards and duties

        9. Section 9: Gaelic language plans

        10. Section 10: Financial assistance for the promotion etc. of the Gaelic language

        11. Section 11: Scottish Ministers’ powers relating to research etc.

        12. Section 12: Power to enforce duties of relevant public authorities

        13. Section 13: Interpretation: meaning of relevant public authority

        14. Section 14: Land rights and responsibilities statement: regard to be had to supporting Gaelic

      2. Chapter 2: Education

        1. Section 15: Duty of Scottish Ministers to promote Gaelic education

        2. Section 16: Power for Scottish Ministers to set standards relating to Gaelic education

        3. Section 17: Guidance to public authorities relating to Gaelic education

        4. Section 18: Production of school education resources in Gaelic

        5. Section 19: General duty to provide education includes Gaelic education

        6. Section 20: Duty to promote Gaelic education in exercising functions under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980

        7. Section 21: Information-sharing about Gaelic education

        8. Section 22: Gaelic education delivery planning

        9. Section 23: Production of material relating to Gaelic education qualifications

        10. Section 24: Duty to support access to Gaelic medium education

        11. Section 25: Duty to establish a catchment area for schools providing Gaelic medium education

        12. Section 26: Transport to Gaelic medium education: application of Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010

        13. Section 27: Assessments: power to make different provision for different areas

        14. Section 28: Assessments of requests for Gaelic medium education

        15. Section 29: All-Gaelic schools: viability of establishment

        16. Section 30: Duty to consult and plan on delivery of early learning and childcare

        17. Section 31: Conditions of grants to the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council

        18. Section 32: Review of status of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

    2. Part 2: Scots

      1. Chapter 1: Support for the Scots language

        1. Section 33: Status of the Scots language

        2. Section 34: Scots language strategy

        3. Section 35: Reporting on Scots language strategy

        4. Section 36: Effect of Scots language strategy

        5. Section 37: Power for Scottish Ministers to give guidance

        6. Section 38: Financial assistance for the promotion etc. of the Scots language

        7. Section 39: Scottish Ministers’ powers relating to research etc.

      2. Chapter 2: School education

        1. Section 40: Scots language education in schools

        2. Section 41: Guidance to education authorities relating to Scots language education

        3. Section 42: Standards relating to Scots language education

        4. Section 43: Production of school education resources in Scots

        5. Section 44: Review of adequacy of school education resources in Scots

        6. Section 45: Reporting on Scots language education

        7. Section 46: Interpretation of Chapter 2

    3. Part 3: Final provisions

      1. Section 47: Ancillary provision

      2. Section 48: Commencement

      3. Section 49: Short title

  5. Parliamentary History

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the Scottish Government to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Acts of the Scottish Parliament except those which result from Budget Bills.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources