On November 30, 2025, as Scotland celebrated St Andrew’s Day, a new chapter in the nation’s cultural story quietly but decisively began. The Scottish Languages Act, a piece of legislation years in the making, officially recognised both Gaelic and Scots as official languages for the first time in history. The move, heralded by politicians and language advocates alike, marks what many are calling a "historic milestone" in the preservation and revitalisation of Scotland’s linguistic heritage.
The passage of the Act was not a sudden decision. According to BBC, the Scottish Languages Bill was first introduced on St Andrew’s Day in 2023, a symbolic gesture tying the legislation to Scotland’s national day. After months of debate and refinement, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted the Bill through in June 2025. The Act then received Royal Assent on August 1, 2025, clearing the final hurdle before becoming law.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, was quick to underscore the significance of the moment. "St Andrew’s Day is a fitting time to celebrate Scotland’s identity by recognising Gaelic and Scots as official languages," Forbes said, as reported by Radio NewsHub. She went on to call the day "a historic milestone which acknowledges the vital place these languages hold in Scotland’s culture and heritage." Forbes also highlighted the broad support for the Bill, noting that it received unanimous backing from MSPs—a rare show of unity in the often fractious world of politics.
The Act itself is far more than a symbolic gesture. It contains a suite of practical measures designed to give both Gaelic and Scots a fighting chance in the years ahead. Chief among these is a new right for parents: they can now formally request that a Gaelic school be established in their area. This provision aims to make Gaelic-medium education more accessible, particularly in communities where demand has previously gone unmet.
Beyond education, the Act also seeks to ensure that more qualifications are available in Gaelic, opening new doors for students who wish to pursue their studies in the language. The legislation empowers ministers to commission research into the use and status of both Gaelic and Scots, helping policymakers better understand where support is most needed. There are also new powers to establish teaching standards for both languages, a move that advocates say will help ensure high-quality instruction across Scotland.
One particularly innovative measure in the Act is the creation of "areas of linguistic significance." These are communities where Gaelic is especially prevalent or culturally important. By officially recognising such areas, the government hopes to better target its policies and resources, supporting the growth and sustainability of the language where it is needed most. As BBC notes, this approach is designed to make support for Gaelic more precise and effective, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model.
The government is not just making promises; it is putting real money behind its commitments. According to both BBC and Radio NewsHub, £35.7 million has been allocated in 2025 alone for initiatives aimed at supporting both Gaelic and Scots. "To support the continued growth of both languages the Scottish Government has already allocated £35.7 million for Gaelic and Scots initiatives this year, ensuring that this milestone translates into meaningful change for communities across the country," Forbes explained.
Why now? The most recent census data helps explain the urgency and optimism behind the Act. In 2022, 130,161 people in Scotland reported having some skills in Gaelic, an increase of 43,105 from the 2011 census. The number of Scots speakers is even more striking: 2,444,659 people reported some Scots skills in 2022, up by 515,215 from 2011. These figures, published by BBC and Radio NewsHub, suggest that interest in both languages is not only alive but growing—contrary to the narrative of inevitable decline that has often surrounded minority languages.
Of course, the distribution of language skills is not uniform across the country. The council area with the highest proportion of Gaelic speakers is Na h-Eileanan Siar, also known as the Western Isles, where a remarkable 57.2% of residents have some Gaelic skills. This is far higher than in Highland (8.1%) or Argyll and Bute (6.2%), the next highest council areas. These statistics underscore the importance of the Act’s provisions for recognising and supporting areas of linguistic significance, ensuring that resources are directed to the communities where they can have the greatest impact.
For advocates of language revitalisation, the Act represents a hard-won victory. The passage of the Bill and its implementation on St Andrew’s Day is seen as both a celebration and a call to action. The government’s commitment to research, education, and funding is designed to ensure that Gaelic and Scots continue to be living, evolving languages—not just relics of the past.
But the road ahead is not without its challenges. While the increase in the number of people with Gaelic and Scots skills is encouraging, the absolute numbers still represent a minority of Scotland’s population. Making the dream of a truly bilingual or multilingual Scotland a reality will require sustained effort, creative policymaking, and continued investment. The recognition of Scots as an official language, in particular, opens up new debates about what it means to be a speaker of Scots, given the language’s many regional varieties and its close relationship with English.
Still, the sense of momentum is palpable. As Scotland marks St Andrew’s Day, the formal recognition of Gaelic and Scots as official languages is more than a bureaucratic change—it is a statement about identity, belonging, and the future. As Forbes put it, "This is a historic milestone which acknowledges the vital place these languages hold in Scotland’s culture and heritage." With new rights for parents, increased funding, and a focus on linguistic communities, the Act sets the stage for a new era in Scotland’s linguistic landscape.
For now, the signs—quite literally, in some places—are promising. From the hills of the Western Isles to the classrooms of Glasgow and Edinburgh, the words of Scotland’s past and present are being given new life, and with them, the promise of a more inclusive and vibrant national identity.
