E-sgoil

What E-sgoil does

E-sgoil is a Scottish government-funded online education provider founded in 2016 in Stornoway to address teacher shortages in the Western Isles, and now operating as a nationwide community for online teaching and learning. The organization delivers live, interactive lessons via Microsoft Teams to learners across Scotland, covering Early Years through Senior Phase education, with particular specialization in Gaelic Medium Education and formal Gàidhlig qualifications (National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher) presented through a partnership with UHI North, West and Hebrides as SQA presenting centre.

Its product portfolio includes the award-winning Misneachd specialist programme for Gaelic Medium Primary pupils, i-Sgoil alternative provision for learners disengaged from mainstream school, DYW Live career-development programming, mental health and wellbeing sessions (developed with Headstrong), BGE Live lessons, modern language sessions (French, Japanese), and the My Way video/Q&A resource. The underlying technology stack is conventional: synchronous video over Microsoft Teams, with GTCS-registered teachers and approved educators delivering certificated full-year courses and standalone learning sessions.

The business model is non-commercial: revenue is derived entirely from Scottish Government funding (including a £5.7 million allocation for Gaelic initiatives in 2025-26) channelled through partnerships with local authorities and national bodies including Bord na Gàidhlig, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and the National E-Learning Offer (NELO). There is no direct pricing to end consumers; learners access courses through school or adult-learner registration pathways.

Name

E-sgoil

Legal name

e-Sgoil

Website

https://e-sgoil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

E-sgoil is a Scottish government-funded online education provider founded in 2016 in Stornoway, delivering live GTCS-taught courses via Microsoft Teams to learners across Scotland, with specialist Gaelic Medium Education programmes and SQA qualifications presented through UHI North, West and Hebrides.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Test Prep & Online Supplemental Instruction (K–12) (EDAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Test Prep & Exam Readiness (K–12) (EDAJALAC), Special Education Online / Virtual Schools & Remote Programs (EDAKAAAL)

Keywords

• Online learning platform
• Gaelic education
• Distance learning
• Virtual classroom
• Certificated courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Stornoway

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded by the Scottish Government and local authorities to provide online education services to schools and adult learners across Scotland. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes mentioned £5.7 million for Gaelic initiatives in 2025-26.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

E-sgoil is a government-funded online education provider delivering live, interactive lessons via Microsoft Teams to learners across Scotland. The organisation offers full-year certificated courses across Early Years, Primary, Secondary, and Senior Phase education, with particular specialisation in Gaelic/Gàidhlig language education including National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher qualifications. It also provides alternative education provision (i-Sgoil) for disengaged learners and career development programmes (DYW Live).

Product overview

E-sgoil is a nationwide community for online teaching and learning in Scotland, founded in 2016 to address teacher shortages. The platform offers a unified portfolio of live, interactive online educational programmes and resources across all Scottish education levels (Early Years through Senior Phase). Core offerings include formal Gaelic/Gàidhlig qualifications (NQ courses at National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher), alternative education provision (i-Sgoil for disengaged learners), career development (DYW Live), modern language courses (French, Japanese), and wellbeing programmes. The platform operates as a single integrated online learning service delivering certificated courses, live lessons, and on-demand resources through GTCS-registered teachers and approved educators, partnering with UHI North, West and Hebrides as the SQA presenting centre for Gaelic qualifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Misneachd Specialist Gaelic Medium programme delivered into Primary Schools across Scotland supporting immersion and developing fluency. Teachers identify pupils who would benefit from intense small group interaction with specialist teachers.
• NQ Gaelic/Gàidhlig Courses National qualifications in Gaelic/Gàidhlig at National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher levels for school learners and adults, delivered via online learning and presented through UHI North, West and Hebrides as the SQA presenting centre.
• i-Sgoil Online provision supporting learners from P2 to S6 who have been unable to engage with their local school, allowing re-engagement from a safe space while remaining on local school roll.
• Online Courses 2026-27 Full-year certificated online courses for school pupils and adults taught via live, interactive lessons by GTCS registered teachers, further education lecturers, or approved educators including accredited training officers delivering Foundation Apprenticeships.
• DYW Live Developing the Young Workforce live programme featuring courses and themed weeks for career development aimed at school learners.
• Gaelic Language in The Primary School (GLPS) Gaelic (Learners) provision for primary pupils - up to 20-week course covering introductions, feelings, numbers, days of week, weather, colours, family, pets, body, clothes, hobbies, food, time, rooms, jobs, school subjects and community.
• Leugh is Seinn le Linda Gaelic reading and singing sessions with children's TV presenter Linda Macleod featuring stories and rhymes in Gaelic.
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Learning Sessions Mental health and wellbeing support sessions developed for young people in S1-S3, available as standalone learning sessions.
• P7-S1 Transition Mental Health Sessions Transition support for learners moving from P7 to S1, developed in collaboration with mental health experts Headstrong.
• French Language Sessions Interactive French language sessions featuring French Story Puppets for early 1st level learners and French STEM with Richard Talleron for 2nd level learners.
• My Way Online video gallery featuring diverse people sharing success stories, with interactive chat Q&A sessions broadcast live and available on demand.
• e-Sgoil Big Questions Interactive, IDL and discovery-based learning prompts, curated resources and tasks for classroom use both in-person and remotely.
• BGE Live Live lessons bringing high-quality, fully interactive sessions to BGE learners across Scotland diving into exciting topics and themes.
• Scotland's Assembly National assemblies suitable for P2-7 learners featuring exciting national partners and key themes from Scotland's Curriculum.
• Specialist Supply Cover Specialist supply cover services provided by e-Sgoil staff to schools requiring temporary teacher cover.
• Evening Study Support Online study support available during evening hours for Senior Phase learners (S4-S6).

Quantifiable outcome

• 74% of National 5 candidates achieved A grade in Gaelic courses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bord na GàidhligcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Gaelic language authority serving as a key partner in supporting and promoting Gaelic education through e-Sgoil's online programmes.
• Comhairle nan Eilean SiarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority for the Western Isles, the founding region of e-Sgoil, providing ongoing support and partnership in delivering online education.
• The Scottish GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government funder providing £5.7 million for Gaelic initiatives in 2025-26. Works closely with e-Sgoil to ensure online Gaelic courses are available nationwide.
• NELO (National E-Learning Offer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to align e-Sgoil's offerings with Scotland's National E-Learning framework and resources.
• UHI North, West and HebridescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnered with e-Sgoil as the SQA presenting centre for National, Higher and Advanced Higher Gaelic qualifications, enabling e-Sgoil to facilitate access to SQA Gaelic qualifications for pupils and adults across Scotland.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Atom Learning: UK online K-12 tutoring and adaptive learning platform for entrance exams and school support, overlapping e-Sgoil's exam-readiness and supplemental learning segments.

Broad incumbents

• Oak National Academy: Government-backed online lessons platform for UK schools, mirroring e-Sgoil's national free online delivery scope but with broader subject coverage and direct state backing.
• Twinkl: UK-based subscription educational content platform serving schools and teachers, comparable as a broad online K-12 resource provider adjacent to e-Sgoil's digital learning content.

Direct peers

• King's InterHigh: UK-based online K-12 school offering full-year, live-taught courses from primary through senior phase, analogous to e-Sgoil's certificated online courses delivered nationwide via live lessons.
• My Online School (Pearson): Pearson-affiliated online K-12 school in the UK delivering live lessons and IGCSE/A-level courses. Direct comparable in core model (online, certificated K-12 delivery with accredited teachers).
• Nisai Education: UK provider of online alternative provision for learners disengaged from mainstream school, similar to e-Sgoil's i-Sgoil programme, with comparable re-engagement focus and remote delivery.

Regional players

• Sabhal Mòr Ostaig: Scotland's Gaelic-medium higher education college, overlapping with e-Sgoil on Gaelic-language pedagogy and rural-isles learner base, though focused on post-secondary rather than K-12 delivery.

Others

• UHI North, West and Hebrides: Existing strategic partner serving as SQA presenting centre for e-Sgoil's Gaelic qualifications; comparable as a regional higher education and further-education provider in the same Western Isles catchment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eSgoil
• Facebookfacebook.com/eSgoil
• Instagraminstagram.com/esgoil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/e-sgoil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about E-sgoil