OU in Scotland celebrates milestone for Scots language in education

The Open University (OU) in Scotland played a leading role in a landmark event in September, celebrating the recognition of Scots as a language in its own right.

Co-hosted with Education Scotland, the one-day gathering at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh brought together more than 70 participants and 29 organisations from across the country. Together, they explored a central question for Scotland’s education system: “whaar tae nixt?” (where to next?) for Scots in education.

The celebration marked a major milestone in Scottish language policy, following the passing of the Scottish Languages Act earlier this year. It also highlighted the OU’s long-standing commitment to making education open to all – including through supporting the everyday use of Scots in schools and classrooms.

Deputy First Minister praises OU’s contribution

The event opened with a keynote address from Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic. Ms Forbes praised the OU and its partners for their passion and commitment to Scots, for helping to shape the new legislation, and for their vital, varied work to embed the language in Scottish classrooms and our communities.

Today’s event marks an important milestone for the place of Scots language in Scottish education."
Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister

“Today’s event marks an important milestone for the place of Scots language in Scottish education,” she said. “It has been a long road to get to where we now are, but thanks to you, thanks to communities and the Scots organisations who came together to help shape and write the Bill, we are now in a position to celebrate some incredibly important achievements.”

The Deputy First Minister also acknowledged the important role played by The Open University in Scotland and partners in helping Scots gain greater visibility in wider Scottish society, especially in areas like health and social care, and social work.

A programme rooted in Scots culture

The celebration combined reflection with cultural performance. Attendees enjoyed readings in Scots from two of the country’s best-known writers, Gerda Stevenson and Billy Kay, before hearing from Graeme Logan, Interim Chief Executive of Education Scotland.

Panel discussions and themed workshops then examined the opportunities created by the new legislation. Sessions ranged from “Realising the Scots language ambitions of the new legislation” to “Scots language classroom practice and multilingual education”.

OU academics presented research on a range of aspects of Scots language education, alongside contributions from practising teachers who shared novel pedagogical approaches to integrating Scots into everyday learning. The day closed with final readings and a wrap-up discussion that invited delegates to reflect on their takeaways and identify practical next steps for the sector.

OU and Education Scotland: a partnership delivering results

The OU in Scotland has been at the forefront of efforts to support Scots as a living language that plays an important and inclusive role in Scottish education. Its School of Languages and Applied Linguistics gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee, worked with MSP Emma Harper to build cross-party consensus, and challenged misconceptions around the Bill.

This celebration is a wonderful moment to see Scots recognised and embraced across education and communities."
Dr Sylvia Warnecke, the OU in Scotland

This builds on a six-year partnership between the OU and Education Scotland which has delivered significant impact. In early 2024, the partners launched the Scots Language Teacher Professional Learning Programme – the first ever professional development course in Scots for teachers.

The course provides flexible, practice-based learning designed to build teacher confidence in using Scots with their pupils. Since its launch in February, more than 300 teachers across Scotland have enrolled.

The programme has already been widely recognised. At the Scots Language Awards 2024, it won Scots Educational Project of the Year, and it has also been granted full Professional Recognition by the GTCS for Teaching Scots Language and Culture.

Dr Sylvia Warnecke, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead Nations at the OU in Scotland:

“This celebration is a wonderful moment to see Scots recognised and embraced across education and communities. The Open University has been proud to contribute research, expertise and support that helps teachers and learners connect with the language in meaningful ways, reinforcing its value in Scottish life and culture.”

Dr Laura Paterson, Head of the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics:

“Scots is one of Scotland’s greatest assets. It is a language of poetry and protest, of everyday conversation and deep-rooted tradition. In our School we are proud to support work to expand the use of Scots across all regions and to ensure that education systems, cultural institutions, and policies recognise the value of Scots. Thus, we imagine a future where Scots is not just preserved, but lived—spoken in classrooms, celebrated in literature, and heard in public life.”

Looking ahead

The event underlined the importance of embedding Scots in everyday learning, as well as the need for continued collaboration between policymakers, educators and communities. Participants agreed that sustaining momentum will require investment in teacher training, resources and research.

As the conversations around Scots move from legislation to implementation, the OU’s role in shaping policy, supporting inclusive practice, and delivering real-world impact will remain central.

This milestone celebration demonstrates how the OU’s mission – to make education open to all – translates into meaningful change not just for learners, but for communities and culture across Scotland.

Photos by Kathryn Tuckerman.

3 October 2025