KILGRASTON SCHOOL
Kilgraston is a world- class boarding and day school, offering education for children aged five to 18.
We have an enviable record of academic achievement at the highest levels. Our fundamental belief is that each child must feel valued, respected and emotionally secure. We therefore work hard to ensure that each child matures intellectually and personally through all her years at Kilgraston.
The distinctive Kilgraston experience is designed to develop young people who have a thirst for life- long, independent learning and a vital commitment to making a real difference to the world around them.
The school offers day, full and flexible boarding options.
In 2020, Kilgraston celebrates its 90th year as a school. It is a school with traditional values but one that has a modern and forward- looking perspective on education.
At Kilgraston, it is not solely about exam success – developing interests and talents; nurturing an understanding of different cultures, and emphasising the pupils’ personal responsibility as global citizens are all vital.
As such, a Kilgraston pupil benefits from a wealth of opportunities to extend and enrich her educational experience.
The school is proud of the depth of its co- curricular offering, which allows our pupils to take risks, develop life- long skills such as communication, and to have the confidence to immerse themselves in a stimulating and invigorating range of activities, pastimes and hobbies.
More than 50 co- curricular activities are integrated seamlessly with the core curriculum and occur regularly throughout the week.
Pupils enjoy taking part in activities across a range of modern facilities, including a science centre, sixth form study centre, excellent boarding accommodation, a 25m swimming pool, all- weather Astroturf pitches and
Scotland’s only on- site school equestrian centre.
There is a happy, family atmosphere for children aged between five and 12 in the Junior School, where the focus is on intellectual development, establishing a natural curiosity, personal endeavour, determination and a love for learning in all areas of the curriculum.
Emphasis is placed on skills that allow individual pupils to pursue their learning, both in the classroom and beyond.
At the top of the Junior School, Kilgraston pupils are given responsibilities, such as taking on the roles of house captains, sports captains, prefects or “buddies”.
From the Senior School, pupils move on to the Sixth Form.
Her Majesty’s inspectors visited Kilgraston in February 2019 and found that the school was a “stimulating” environment for the children, and there was an extensive range of “engaging activities” on offer.
The Scottish examination system has a rich heritage and is highly regarded by the best universities across the world.
During Sixth Form, the emphasisis on fostering a belief and genuine confidence in each individual’s abilities and vision for their future.
And the boarding community is vital in maintaining the vibrancy of the school. A team of friendly, approachable, sensitive and highly professional boarding staff are on hand to offer girls help and advice at anytime of the day or night.
The pupils have an active social calendar and enjoy many events from informal “getting- to- know- you evenings” to Highland balls with Kilgraston’s brother school, Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh.
Boarders and day pupils are also involved in many volunteering activities within the local community.
The school offers the option of flexi boarding – which is increasingly popular even with those who live close to the school.
Kilgraston is part of the international Sacred Heart Network, an education foundation, so at the centre of the school’s ethos is a focus on the concept of the whole person, which is developed through the five Sacred Heart goals: a living faith, personal growth, intellectual values, building community, and an active social awareness.
In 2020, 100 per cent of our pupils were accepted into their first choice of university.
Kilgraston has an exceptional reputation for its graduates entering top universities throughout the world.
In the most recent Education Scotland Inspection report, the school received “very good” status in all categories.
Pupils leaving Kilgraston have an embedded sense of individualism, confidence, humility and a strong desire to achieve the very best they can be.
Kilgraston pupils don’t compromise on success, they inspire it.