About 320 pupils will be educated at the new school

The �4m Glasgow Gaelic School has been established at the former Woodside Secondary School close to the city centre.

About 320 pupils will attend and Glasgow City Council said the move was significant for the city and Scotland.

The opening comes shortly after Scotland's first National Plan for Gaelic was put out to consultation.

The facility replaces the former Gaelic Primary and Nursery school in Ashley Street and the Gaelic unit in Hillpark Secondary.

The school was given approval by the council after an "extensive consultation" in December 2004.

I've worked long and hard in all my teaching career to be involved in Gaelic medium education and it's just amazing that we're at this stage Head teacher Donalda McComb

Glasgow City Council said it was seeking to build on the "huge success" of Gaelic medium education.

The year's primary one intake has received about 50 children and the council said it had responded to a "big parental demand".

Head teacher Donalda McComb said: "I didn't ever think that I would be in the position that I'm in today as the head teacher of the first three to 18 school.

"I'm very proud to be that individual. I've worked long and hard in all my teaching career to be involved in Gaelic medium education and it's just amazing that we're at this stage."

'Modern building'

Pupil David Mackenzie, who had attended the primary in Ashley Street, said: "It looks like quite a modern building, I think I will enjoy being taught there."

On the issue of being bilingual, he said: "It's good to have a second language and it's good to keep the language up for Scotland."

There have been growing efforts to promote the language and the National Plan was launched earlier this month.