A GLASGOW secondary school where 35 different languages are spoken by pupils and their families held a successful pilot for a new Saturday morning club.

Rosshall Academy on the Southside of the city offered parents an ESOL (English as a Second or Other Language) workshop as part of Refugee Festival Scotland Week.

Glasgow Times: The event at Rosshall Academy was successfulThe event at Rosshall Academy was successful (Image: Rosshall Academy)

Stephanie McKenna, principal teacher in linguistic and cultural inclusion, explained: “Fifteen percent of our pupils here have English as an additional language and almost all of these pupils have experience of the refugee and asylum system.

“As a result, we are passionate about EAL and ESOL - linguistic and cultural inclusion is at the heart of what we do here at the school. We already have a parents’ ESOL class led in partnership with Glasgow Clyde College, which is run successfully by tutor Lynn.”

At the pilot session, while parents took part in activities designed to help them develop their English language skills, their preschool-aged children enjoyed a play session in the creche.

Glasgow Times: Parents enjoyed ESOL activities while children played in the creche.Parents enjoyed ESOL activities while children played in the creche. (Image: Rosshall Academy)

“The aim was to help them learn some English, join in the play session or just enjoy a tea or coffee with other parents in the local area and enjoy the sounds of other languages,” explained Stephanie.   

“It was amazing to see our local community coming together. This event acted as a pilot for a Saturday morning family ESOL school to be considered in partnership with Crookston Community Group, who support many of our families already.”

She added: “Allowing for networking opportunities and ESOL opportunities for families new to English and new to Scotland gives us hope that they will feel a sense of integration as new Scots and make them feel welcomed into the country.”