Gwen Culbertson

Headteacher, Sleat Primary School, Isle of Skye

I have been the Headteacher of Sleat Primary School since January this year (2008). I have learned a huge amount in that time and I am very much enjoying the position. Each day is so different from the previous and the staff, children and parents have been very supportive since I started.

Myself and my sisters where brought up in a bilingual home and we also went through Gaelic Medium Education in Inverness. I left Millburn Academy and began an honours degree at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and in a way I have never left the Island since then. I then studied for my teaching certificate at Jordanhill for 9 months, which at times was hard but I learned so much. I had the opportunity to teach through the medium of English and Gaelic and in schools where there were socially more divers than I was used to - an amazing opportunity!

I began teaching 4 years ago under the direction of Ishbel Gilroy in Central Primary school, Inverness and then under Gordon Wyness in Broadford Primary School which was a fantastic learning opportunity where I had the chance to develop my skills as a teacher.

As one of the first pupils to come through the Gaelic medium system to become a teacher and then Headteacher - perhaps the first Headteacher that went through Gaelic medium, I now have very different opinions of what we have today and what is ahead of us.

I was always interested in teaching especially in Gaelic – the culture, music and the language and in this job I have the opportunity to be involved in these every day with young people that are very confident, and lively. There is nothing like it!