Anna Thirkell

Anna Thirkell serves as Lecturer and Course Director for the MEd Gaelic Education program at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, University of the Highlands and Islands, based on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Her academic qualifications include:

• BSc (Hons) in Anatomy, University of Aberdeen (1995)
• PGCE in Primary School, Northern College (1996)
• HNC in Gaelic and Communication, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (1997)
• MRes in Education, University of Aberdeen (2014)

She is currently pursuing doctoral research in Education.

Her research centers on Gaelic-medium education with specific focus on how primary school teachers develop Gaelic language proficiency through subject-based instruction. This work addresses critical challenges in sustaining Gaelic language transmission within educational contexts and contributes to broader minority language revitalization efforts through innovative pedagogical approaches.

Her publication record features a significant 2014 pilot study examining young speakers' classroom language patterns, which established foundational insights into language maintenance dynamics in Gaelic-medium primary settings. This research demonstrates consistent thematic focus on practical applications for teacher development and curriculum design in minority language education.

No scientific awards are referenced in the available documentation.

As Course Director, Thirkell leads curriculum development for the MEd program and oversees the Streap Courses (Postgraduate Teaching Certificate in Gaelic Medium Education). Her professional activities include collaboration with researchers like M. MacLeod and D. Coyle on classroom language studies, and she maintains registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).