Scots and the Pupil Census

The Pupil Census – which informs education and local authorities about the cultural composition of children in Scottish schools – has recently been revised to include the Scots language. In 2010 Dr Bill Wilson MSP, along with Dr Dauvit Horsbroch of the Scots Language Centre, met with government representatives to discuss ways in which the language might be included within the census. Gerry Donnelly, statistician with Education Analytical Services: Scotxed, has recently been working to improve the presence of the language. In light of the inclusion of the Scots language in the forthcoming 2011 national census, the EAS has consulted with local authorities to agree ways in which the collection of data related to Scots-speaking might be improved. The EAS agreed that the various local dialects would from 2011 be included within the main language category of Scots as a way of improving defintion. Scots will also be recognised as one of the main native tongues along with Gaelic and English, and education management information systems in all 32 local authorities have now been advised to support this inclusion. Mr Donnelly also recently announced that the results of the way in which the Scots language question is completed in the national census would be used to inform future strategy in the Pupil Census.