RECORD numbers of parents are enrolling their children at Glasgow's new Gaelic superschool.

The number of secondary pupils joining the £4million campus in the West End - combined with those at the Gaelic unit at Hillpark Secondary - has increased by 32% in the last year.

The school, near Charing Cross, which opened last year caters for pupils from pre-5 to secondary, and has attracted dozens of placing requests from other local authorities.

Head teacher Donalda McComb said: "When the new school opened this time last year it was a historic occasion for staff, pupils and parents.

"To see the rise in school rolls across pre-5, primary and secondary is a real success story.

"There is a continued confidence in Gaelic education and this week also sees the opening of a new Gaelic nursery school in Inverness."

Overall the roll in Gaelic-medium education from nursery through to high school has risen in the city by 19% this year.

This contrasts sharply with a decline in general education enrolments across Scotland, where school rolls are down each year by as much as 5% in some council areas.

In the primary classes at the Glasgow Gaelic School, where the bulk of Gaelic-medium education takes place, the number of pupils has increased by 14% with a total roll of 253.

The number of children entering the three Gaelic nurseries in the city is also up by 22%.

The three are Rowena in Knightswood, Little Scholars in Langside and Glasgow Gaelic School.

Earlier this year the Scottish Executive published its flagship strategy for saving the language.

Government officials have set a target of 100,000 speakers by 2041, an increase of 70%.

The new super school, which was officially opened in February, is based at the former Woodside Secondary School and caters for 320 pupils, up 75 on last year's figures.

Pupils are taught entirely in Gaelic from the age of three until they leave school at 18.

Education chiefs say the school is helping retain pupils in Gaelic education.

Previously most students would have gone on to a mainstream high school after primary.

Sean Gallagher, chairman of the new Gaelic school board, said: "The secondary offers a very wide range of subjects delivered through Gaelic, a range not available anywhere else in the country, this is proving to be attractive to parents and pupils."