Editing Isle of Lewis (section)

== Education ==
{{See also|Education in Scotland}}
School education in Lewis is under the remit of [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]]. There are a total of 15 schools covering the 5–18 age range.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/education/lewisaddresses.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013135301/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/education/lewisaddresses.htm  |title=Local Authority Education Dept.|archive-date=13 October 2008}}</ref> Unusual features are the prevalence of [[Gaelic medium education in Scotland|Scottish Gaelic medium education]] (offered in 12 of 14 primary schools)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/gme/stats.html |title=Local Authority – Gaelic Medium |access-date=4 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623035234/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/gme/stats.html |archive-date=23 June 2007 }}</ref> and the [[Nicolson Institute]], the only secondary school on the island. The large number of village schools led to necessarily small rolls, and falls in pupil numbers led to the closures of all of the rural secondary departments and some of the primary schools.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6960478.stm|title=Plans to close 11 island schools|work=BBC News|date=2007-08-23}}</ref>

Stornoway is home to a small campus of the [[University of Stirling]], teaching nursing, which is based in ''Ospadal nan Eilean'' (Western Isles Hospital). There is also a further education college, [[Lews Castle College]], which is part of the [[UHI Millennium Institute]]. The college is the umbrella organisation for other vocational and community education, offered in several rural learning centres as well as on the main campus and covering subjects such as basic computer skills, Scottish Gaelic language classes and maritime qualifications.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lews.uhi.ac.uk/centres/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614052807/http://www.lews.uhi.ac.uk/centres/index.html  |title=Lews Castle College – Learning Centres|archive-date=14 June 2007}}</ref>