Hockey Results
Thursday 13th September 2012
Netball v High School Dundee (U4)
lost 9 – 16
Hockey v Morrison’s Academy 1st XI
won 1 – 0
Hockey v Morrison’s Academy 2nd XI
lost 2 – 5
Wednesday 12th September
Under 12 A
Won 7 - 4
Under 12 B
Lost 2 – 5
Tuesday 11th September
Under 15 v Fettes
Lost 0 - 3
Under 14 v Fettes
Lost 1 - 5
Saturday 8th September
1st XI v Albyn (Aberdeen) at home
won 6 - 0
Under 15 v St Leonards away
drew 3 - 3
Under 14 v St Leonards away
won 3 - 0
Under 13 v St Leonards away
drew 3 – 3
Kilgraston pupil gains “phenomenal” full marks in A Level Art
A KILGRASTON School pupil has entered the record books by getting 100% in ALL FOUR of her A level Art exams this year.
Rebecca Blakey’s achievement in scoring an unprecedented 400 out of 400 has been described as “phenomenal” by her teachers at the Bridge of Earn girls school.
Now Rebecca (17), from Fort Augustus in Inverness-shire – who also won first prize at the Perth Young Artist competition this year – is going on to Edinburgh University to study Theology.
Not to be outdone, fellow student Sophie Wade, from Lindores, achieved an outstanding 399 out of 400. She’s now going on to study Marketing at Newcastle University.
The two were closely followed by Emma Clark from Ayr who is going on to study Law at Aberdeen and by Mhairi Stewart from Perth who is going on to study Fashion Design at Galashiels College.
Sophie said: “I decided to do my A level in one year. It was a big thing to attempt in just twelve months but I’ve always enjoyed Art and I found working in the Art Department relaxing.”
Boats at St Andrews became the inspiration for one of her papers while for another she concentrated on portraiture.
Kilgraston’s Carol-Ann Lund, Deputy Head (Academic), said: “This is a phenomenal achievement by Rebecca and our other amazingly talented girls. Over the years the department has acquired an outstanding reputation, both in terms of academic results at Higher and A level and in local and national competitions. It has expanded to offer Fine Art, Textiles and Photography and these results are a fitting tribute to Aileen Neilson who retired this summer after twenty-four years as Head of Art.”
She added: “Alongside a team of colleagues Alison Mailer, Joanne Campbell and Georgina McMaster, Aileen has built an Art Department that is second to none. Many Kilgraston students have gone on to study Art – from Art History at St Andrews to Fine Art in Glasgow, Edinburgh Dundee and Aberdeen. Several students have taken up Art as a career – Finola Stack as a children’s book illustrator and Alyssa Bluett is just about to launch a career as a portrait painter.
“Aileen’s successor Gillian Macleod will undoubtedly maintain this great tradition of excellence at Kilgraston.”
Kilgraston Principal Frank Thompson commented: “Everyone who visits Kilgraston is struck by the quality of the art on display and many are surprised to find out just how much is the work of the girls. Art is a wonderfully energetic department which embraces both modern technology and traditional skills to produce works of great skill and imagination.”
Our two pictures show:
1 Rebecca with a self-portrait which won first prize in the Perth Young Artist competition;
2 Rebecca with Scottish Education Minister Mike Russell who visited Kilgraston earlier this year.
Excellent Exam Results Once Again for Kilgraston
A - 52.8
A-B - 78
A-C - 91.4
Advanced (Higher Upper Sixth) Pre Appeal 2012
A - 53
A-B - 81.3
A-C - 96.4
G.C.E. A-Level (Art)
Percentage with
Grade A* - 60
Grade A - 40
SENIOR students at Bridge of Earn’s Kilgraston School have achieved excellent results in this year’s SQA examinations, with the vast majority of its Upper Six girls now going on to top Universities north and south of the border.
Kilgraston, Scotland’s largest girls’ boarding school and the UK’s Independent School of the Year, has consistently achieved outstanding exam results and this year sees that success continuing.
At Higher, pupils achieved 91.4% A-C passes, with 53% of these A grades.
At Advanced Higher, the picture was even better, with pupils achieving 96.4% A-C passes, with 53% again at A grade.
Standard Grade results were outstanding too, with 88% at Credit level. In addition, 71% of the Intermediate 2 examination results were A grades, with A-C grades over 98%.
Kilgraston has an impressive record in placing pupils in top Universities throughout Scotland and the UK, and currently over 90% of the girls in Upper 6th have been accepted for places so far, with 60% of the girls receiving unconditional offers.
The results are well above the national average with strengths in many areas, particularly in languages and science.
New Principal Frank Thompson, who replaces former Head Mike Farmer, said that the results are amongst the best in Scotland and a testament to the work of the girls and the staff.
“We are delighted to see, yet again, such excellent results. The girls have worked very hard to achieve this success. With the commitment of the staff and the strong community spirit at Kilgraston, every girl has been able to do her best.”
Some Kilgraston girls achieved exceptional results this year.
Emma Carey (17), from Perth, achieved two As at Advanced Higher, in Chemistry and Biology, and six As at Higher. Next month she goes on to study Medicine at St. Andrews University, following in the footsteps of her parents, both of whom are well-known GPs in the local area. She said: “Medicine is the only career I ever considered properly. Kilgraston gave me lots of great opportunities and the teaching I received was excellent – they always put in so much effort and were always there for me.”
Meanwhile, Blairgowrie’s Camilla Cumming (18) is taking a gap year before going up to Edinburgh University after achieving three As at Advanced Higher - in Biology, Chemistry and Physics - and five As at Higher. She said: “I made amazing friends at Kilgraston and in Mrs Hewett, Miss Losty, Mrs O’Hear and Mrs McCormack, I had four superb teachers. In fact, I would not be applying for medicine if it weren’t for their inspired teaching.”
Megan Leaver, from Pitlochry, gained three As at Advanced Higher and five As at Higher. She’s now preparing to go to Edinburgh University to read Biological Sciences.
After gaining five As at Higher – Maths, English, Chemistry, Biology and German – Abernethy-based Simone Farrer (17) is heading for Glasgow University to study Law. Simone says she has always been fascinated by criminal law and this interest was strengthened by a recent period of work experience with Perth legal firm Culley & McAlpine.
“My time at Kilgraston was very happy and I have so many wonderful memories,” she enthused. “It has inspired me to broaden my horizons and has given me the confidence to take on new challenges.”
And finally London-based Lena Rozycka came to Kilgraston two years ago and gained six Highers and one Advanced Higher. She’s now going to study Orthoptics at Sheffield, an excellent University which has produced five Nobel Prize winners and was last year’s UK University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards.
Kilgraston’s overseas students also gained outstanding results in their exams this year.
Vincy Cui, from China, who gained three As at Advanced Higher and four As at Higher, is going to Imperial College, London next month to study Mathematics with Statistics for Finance while Miki Azuma, also from China, achieved five As at Higher. She is returning to the school to do three Advanced Highers in Upper 6 and hopes to study Medicine at University next year.
Mr Thompson commented: “The fact that many of our students are science-orientated shows the importance of the school’s new £1 million Science Centre which will open next year. It will be equipped throughout with cutting-edge technology, comprising five state-of-the-art laboratories. The old Science Department will be re-developed to house a dedicated sixth-form Study Centre.”
Tim Hall, Chairman of Kilgraston’s Board of Governors, said: “I am very pleased for the girls and teaching staff that their hard work and dedication has resulted in such strong grades and entry to good Universities. Creating consistency and aiming for excellence in all that we do has been a theme shared by the Board and staff for many years, and it is encouraging that this is clearly to be seen in our academic results.”
Vaulting to success
Over the Summer holidays Rebecca Norval (U5) competed in the FEI European Vaulting Championships in Slovakia.
Rebecca and her partner Andrew McLachlan made British and European history by winning GOLD in the Pas De Deux, the first ever European Gold for Britain in this event!
They put in an amazing first round and led Germany by 0.5 with Austria in 3rd place. In the final round they pulled off an almost perfect freestyle and with the International crowd behind them held onto first by 0.3 becoming European Champions.
In the Individual competition Rebecca was placed a credible 17th out of 36 competitors which was a great achievement for her first Individual selection.
Congratulations to Rebecca who has reached a new high in her Vaulting career and broken records in the process!
Sister Eileen Hannan
We regretfully announce the passing of Sister Eileen Hannan, Kilgraston Headmistress from 1974 to 1982 who died in Ireland on the 23rd of August 2012. On behalf of the Kilgraston community past and present, we send thoughts and prayers to her family at this sad time.
Scottish Girls Schools team show horse jumping competition
Five leading girls’ schools from across Scotland came to Perthshire on Sunday 27th September to participate in the first ever Scottish Girls’ Schools Association Equestrian event at Kilgraston School, Bridge of Earn. And Kilgraston, the only school in Scotland boasting an on-site equestrian centre, showed their consistency by winning the overall team point’s trophy with Edinburgh’s Mary Erskine School coming a close second.
Three age groups were contested with Kilgraston winning the team competition in the 12 & under category. It was the turn of St Margaret’s Aberdeen to take maximum points in the 14 & under, while The Mary Erskine School took the top spot in the 15 & over section.
In the Individual competition Claudia Dinning for Craigholme took the top spot in the 12 & Under with a stunning double clear in a time of 30.56 seconds with St George’s Purdie Patterson in second. It was a Mary Erskine one, two in the 14 & Under with Rowan Ball leading the way and Ailsa Noble in second. Kilgraston filled the third and forth places with Emily Ryder and Jessica menzies followed by Caitlin Padfield for St Margaret’s and Amy Groden for Craigholme. In the senior section Mary Erskine again filled the top spot this time with Isla Mowat who posted a double clear in 31.89 seconds with Terri Hurrel second and Anna Reilly third both for Kilgraston.
This event is now set to become an annual fixture in the Girls’ School Association calendar giving an excellent opportunity for young riders to gain team experience whilst representing their school.’