Kilgraston has been chosen as the top independent school in Scotland by The Sunday Times’ prestigious ‘Parent Power’ guide.

27 Nov 2014

A Perthshire School has been chosen as the top independent school in Scotland by The Sunday Times’ prestigious ‘Parent Power’ guide.

Kilgraston, in Bridge of Earn, was chosen for the accolade on the strength of the 2013-14 Intermediate 2 grades achieved by the Upper 5th year, which saw 98.6% of girls’ grades scored A-C, against a national average of 77.9%. 82% scored the highest ‘A’ grade.

Parent Power is the Sunday Times’ guide to the top performing schools in Britain. It publishes a ranking of 2,000 schools, using the latest results from public examinations to assess and compare academic performance. Each year, nine awards are presented to the very top performing ‘schools of the year’. Of Kilgraston, the guide said: “Nestled in a valley surrounded by the rolling hills of stunning Perthshire in the heart of Scotland, Kilgraston School, our Scottish Independent School of the Year, offers an idyllic environment for its pupils to learn and live in. Set in 54 acres of parkland, this small independent Catholic girls boarding and day school is centred around a 17th-century redbrick schoolhouse. The modern facilities, which include a six-lane indoor heated swimming pool, its own equestrian centre, and a £1m science centre, are as outstanding as the scenery is breathtaking, and the school’s academic results are impressive, too

 

 Alastair McCall, Editor of The Sunday Times Schools Guide, Parent Power said: 
“It is always nice to recognise schools that offer something different. Kilgraston has had an outstanding year academically, climbing in our table from 18th last year to fourth this year off the back of stunning results at Highers and Advanced Highers, and also Intermediate 2 examinations. Kilgraston has had a stunning year in the examinations hall – from a non-selective intake –but the school is about so much more than that. Girls are encouraged to participate and succeed in all walks of life and the relatively small numbers allow the school to focus on personal development for each child. The school has a family feel to it and should be proud of its remarkable achievements”.
 
Chair of Kilgraston’s Board of Governors, Mr Tim Hall, said: 

‘The Governing Board is clearly delighted with this award, and KIlgraston’s outstanding academic record continues to help differentiate the school from its peers. We are just as pleased to see recognition in this accolade for our focus on the personal development of every child, whatever their ability, and the caring and supportive environment in which this is achieved’
 
Mrs Carol Ann Lund, Principal, said:
 “We are a small school with a big heart. Our pupils are our best asset; they care about each other, work hard, and are aspirational. Our sixth-formers are extraordinary women who make amazing school leaders. Kilgraston girls see each other doing well and they want to do well. They will run off the hockey pitch, straighten themselves up, and go and sing in the choir. I want to say thank you to every pupil, who does their very best in every lesson, to every teacher – who challenges the girls to give of their best, to support and residential staff who make sure that girls learn in a safe and beautiful environment, and to our parents, who have trusted us with their daughters’ education”.
 
Photo:  Kilgraston’s setting, amongst 54 acres of parkland, was described as ‘breathtaking’ by the Parent Power guide