Mobile ban at Kilgraston praised in national mag…
“Should mobile phones be outlawed in schools?”
The question posed by TES Scotland, in its six-page spread this week, while examining the spike in mental health problems, particularly within the teen girl age group.
“Girls were almost addicted to them,” MacGinty told the reporter, “this has become a real problem”.
Since the ban at Kilgraston, in September 2018, things have vastly improved. “It’s given me the ‘headspace’ to focus on other things,” says one Sixth Former.
The magazine continues, telling readers that, ‘Last year the (Kilgraston) School achieved its best exam results for five years and Mrs MacGinty is in no doubt that the phone ban played a significant part.’
To read the full analysis and comment from other industry leaders, TES Scotland - issue 28 February 2020 - can be bought in most supermarkets or WH Smith stores or ordered through Membership subscriptions on 0345 521 7111
Country Life highlights Kilgraston
We couldn’t agree more.
Featuring a handful of these little UK gems, Country Life magazine this week (on sale from 28 February for one week, with the fantastic Mr Fox on the front cover) highlights Kilgraston School in its limited line-up.
“We’re bucking the national trend in STEM subjects,” Head, Dorothy MacGinty, tells the magazine, “with 60% of pupils pursuing a university course in this topic.”
Small, but mighty indeed.
Read all about it as soon as you can!
Women and Business - Helen Stewart of Badvo Gin
Helen inspired pupils with tales of her entirely hand-foraged product, and the testing process of setting-up a successful business: “Think about what really motivates you; follow your passion,” she told the senior school pupils.
After just two years in operation, the eponymously named Badvo Gin (Badvo is the name of the family farm, meaning ‘tree by the house’ in Gaelic) is now found in over 50 outlets. Since its inception, the product has earned the young entrepreneur several awards, including ‘Great Taste’, ‘Scottish Young Thinker’ and ‘Scottish Young Inspirational Person’.
Developing the taste
Girls heard how Helen’s interest in the spirits industry was ignited at Glasgow University while achieving joint honours in English Literature and Linguistics and doing a holiday job at a local distillery: “I decided to do my dissertation on whisky and gin, ‘The Linguistic Legacy Illicit Distilling left in whisky and gin’ combining my love of writing and spirits!”
During what little free time she had, Helen juggled studying with experiments at the family farm of Badvo, which has been worked by her ancestors since 1599: “My parents told me about distant relatives who used to distil on the farm and I became really drawn into the romantic stories of illicit stills in the hills.”
Pursuing her interest, Helen decided to invest in some equipment, emphasising to the attentive audience that it’s all about one step at a time. “I bought small, copper, half-litre still from a street vendor in Portugal and, with the help of dozens of jam jars, vodka and juniper berries from my parents’ farm, I experimented for months before finally coming up with a recipe I was happy with.”
Crafting the brand
Giving girls an insight into branding considerations, Helen talked them through the thought-process behind her labelling: “Where you find pure water, you find plentiful fish and where you find plentiful fish, you find feeding herons; hence the logo.”
Water used in the gin’s distilling process flows off the foothills of the Cairngorm mountains and straight over her parents’ land.
Propelled by the very modern method of crowd-funding, Helen took pupils through the process of raising money online and getting investors to feel enthusiastic about taking a stake in your company: “Early adopters were real gin enthusiasts who wanted to learn – and talk – about the product’s provenance and authenticity. Generating good content is vital to create enthusiasm.”
Marketing, as with so much of the process, was a big learning curve. “I found that different age-groups preferred different methods of communication, the idea often has to be ‘sold’ in different ways.”
Pupils found the talk inspirational: “It’s really made me think about starting my own business,” said one. “There’s so much to think about but it just shows you what can be done if you put your mind to it.”
Helen’s visit to Kilgraston School was featured in Scottish Field magazine 5.3.20
Prep Schools Strings Day
Kilgraston has opened it’s doors to 75 pupils from 7 different schools today, for our annual Prep Schools Strings Day.
Organised by our Director of Music, Jason McAuley, the day has been a finely tuned success with all pupils, including those who took part from Kilgraston, able to gain valuable performance experience throughout the event.
The large strings orchestra are spent the day learning the piece ‘A Million Dreams’ from the popular 2019 box office hit, The Greatest Showman, whilst the advanced strand worked on Elgar’s Nimrod from his Enigma Variations, as well as a very fun version of a Bach Brandenburgh Concerto.
The day was wrapped up by a concert, showcasing the talent of these young musicians, who, quite clearly, have very exciting musical adventures ahead of them!
February Sporting Success
Junior ski team qualifies for Scottish Championships
Two of our junior ski teams headed to compete in the Scottish Schools Alpine series on Wednesday 26th February.
This was a qualifying round and for many, it was their first experience racing. The sun was shining and the snow glistening. Then the wind started blowing, the snow falling and the temperature dropped. The girls took it all in their stride and braved the elements with no complaints.
In the P. 1 – 4 team were: Elsie, Alice, Sofia, Jessica and Minnie. Elsie came 4th in this category – a really fantastic achievement.
In the P.5 – 7 category were: Lucy, Edith, Megan, Sally, Delilah and Hannah. Both Lucy and Edith did exceptionally well, finishing 8th and 9th. Their team have qualified for the Scottish Championships at Glenshee next Wednesday – a great achievement.
Well done girls!
Katherine qualifies for Olympic trials
Katherine from Upper 5 attended the McCullagh International Swimming meet in Ireland last week and had a very successful competition.
She reached the A final of the 200m butterfly, but withdrew to focus on the 1500m swim.
Katherine took the silver medal in the 1500m freestyle, blowing her own personal best out of the water (quite literally!) by six seconds to finish on 17:35.84, claiming her first international event medal.
This fantastic result qualifies her for her second British Olympic trials event at the Olympic pool in April this year.
To top it off, Katherine had another podium finish by taking 3rd place in the 800m freestyle, gaining her another Olympic qualifying time.
Congratulations Katherine!
Michaela plays for team gold medal
Michaela from Upper 6 played in the EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge with her club, the Dundee Wanderers last weekend.
The competition was held in Porto, Portugal where Michaela and her team played an excelled game to take the gold medal, and gain a promotion to the ‘B’ division for Scotland clubs next year.
Well done Michaela!
Senior Skiiers take to the slopes
Belana and Elisa from Lower 6 headed to the Senior Skiing Championships this week. The girls put in a fantastic effort and thoroughly enjoyed their day.
Well done girls!
Interhouse Hockey
Our Muirhead house hockey was won this year by Kinnoull, with Arran in 2nd and joint 3rd for Moncreiffe and Inchcolm.
For the Under 11 inter house, Moncreiffe won overall with Kinnoull taking 2nd, Inchcolm in 3rd and Arran finishing 4th.
Congratulations Kinnoull and Moncrieffe, and well done to everyone who took part.
Naturewatch: Snowdrops
Galanthus Nivalis
February blew in over-night: a
biting wind wrapped in overcast robes.
Heralding its arrival with
their own quiet, white trumpeting,
the snowdrops defy the frost.
They shove their heads up
and out of the
sodden, bleached leaves that
the trees cried in October.
Phoenix flowers - born again to eternal life.
They will come again in glory
each winter-tide.
A milky army, their ranks swell
on the riverbank, their white helmets catch
the weak winter sunlight and simulate snow.
I can’t help but join their rally-
two months till spring.
by Anna G-H, Lower 6
We celebrated our beautiful crops of snowdrops on Sunday 23rd February by opening our doors to the public for the annual Snowdrop Festival, as part of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. Click here to read more.
Woman and Business welcomes Karon Rollo, Procurator Fiscal
Explaining her route into Law – via a Post Grad in Legal Practice & European Law and a Certificate in Forensic Medicine – Karon gripped her audience, of Upper Fourth, Lower and Upper Fifth, with tales of grisly murders and benchmark historical cases that changed the subject’s teaching forever.
“Scottish lawyers are justifiably proud of their profession,” explained the Fiscal, “Our legal system is one of the best in the world; it’s independent, with all cases requiring corroborated evidence. Everything must be backed-up by independent evidence.”
Karon explained how the role of a PF is to “prosecute on behalf of the state” and that, while there might be more glamorous and more highly paid areas of the Law, she derived a great sense of job satisfaction, knowing that the truth had been sought and just results served: “I sleep easy at night,” she said.
One pupil wondered if she ever felt threatened by some of the less desirable elements encountered along the way. “Not really,” came the response, “most criminals have a very healthy respect for those practicing law and they know that the police are very protective of us.”
Courtroom procedure was discussed with the roles of both defence and prosecution explained: “Police present us, the PFs, with evidence and it is up to our office to decide, through looking at the available evidence, if there is a case there to answer. It’s the defence’s job to represent their clients’ interests.”
Once submitted, Karon explained that, under Scottish Law, statements cannot be withdrawn: “After a witness statement has been provided, it is for the fiscal to decide what happens with the case. We prosecute in the publics’ interest.
Pupils heard how any university degree can lead you to a legal career, with a subsequent two-year conversion course being required.
“Once you have your post-grad you can apply for a two year traineeship with the Crown Office & PF Service where, if successful, you will embark upon a two year traineeship, working in different departments around the country,” Karon advised.
For those looking to experience working in a different country, a career with the COPFs offers the opportunity of a stint in The Hague with Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation.
“Parking fines to post-mortems, it’s all in a day’s work.” Certainly never a dull moment and Kilgraston is very grateful to Karon for fitting us into her busy schedule.
Pupils waiting to speak to the visiting Procurator Fiscal, Karon Rollo, after her Women and Business lecture in Kilgraston’s theatre
Sunshine & snowdrops at Kilgraston
Thankfully Mother Nature obliged and, after Storms Ciara and Dennis on the previous, consecutive, weekends, Kilgraston School’s snowdrops were looking bloomin’ lovely in uninterrupted sunshine.
Every year, as part of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, Kilgraston opens its grounds to the public, allowing visitors to enjoy the magnificent carpets of these little harbingers of spring.
The School’s impressive Central Hall was host to a scrummy afternoon tea and all to the backdrop of talented pupil harpists, Libby & Alyth.
While guests enjoyed the sweeping snowdrops and admired the towering woodlands within the School’s grounds, red squirrels went about their daily duties, in between statues by renowned architect Hew Lorimer.
Thank you Mother Nature, on all fronts!
Missed it this year? Dates are posted here. We look forward to welcoming you in Spring 2021, if not before.
To coincide with the arrival of the snowdrops, Lower Sixth pupil, Anna H, wrote this beautiful poem…
Galanthus Nivalis
Anna H
February 3rd 2020
February blew in over-night: a
biting wind wrapped in overcast robes.
Heralding its arrival with
their own quiet, white trumpeting,
the snowdrops defy the frost.
They shove their heads up
and out of the
sodden, bleached leaves that
the trees cried in October.
Phoenix flowers - born again to eternal life.
They will come again in glory
each winter-tide.
A milky army, their ranks swell
on the riverbank, their white helmets catch
the weak winter sunlight and simulate snow.
I can’t help but join their rally-
two months till spring.
Snowdrops looked particularly beautiful in Kilgraston’s bright Spring sunshine while, indoors, a warm welcome also awaited guests…
Infusion project involving Kilgraston School brewing nicely…
In a perfect infusion of creative talent, over the last few months, Kilgraston School, Hettie’s Teas and T’Go Creative have been blending their collective talents to produce a unique brand of tea.
“We’ve been involved in the process from start to finish,” said one of the fourteen year olds, “from deciding who the tea was aimed at, which flavours were appropriate and how the packaging should look.” She continued, “It’s all very exciting and has really made us all think hard about marketing and design, it’s been a great opportunity.”
This week saw the whole team come together at the Perth-based design studio to bring together the name (a big secret for now) and conceptual logo, turning it into a marketable brand.
Speaking of the collaboration, Head of Kilgraston, Mrs MacGinty, said: “I’d like to thank Clare and Gary for involving the pupils so closely in this process, listening and interpreting their ideas and suggestions, it really has been a team effort.”
Designed to speed you on your way, the tea is a smooth, but perky, combination of flavours including Chinese Sencha, Liquorice and Lemongrass, which will hopefully get everyone safely over their daily finishing line.
“It’s all come from the girls,” said Clare, “T’Go and I have just added a bit of professional polish, everything has been their idea. Well done girls!”
Blend, name and logo design of the new brand of tea is on course to be launched at the grueling Perthshire Etape Caledonia cycle race on Sunday 17 May, where everyone is welcome to join the team at the Kilgraston/Hettie’s stand.
The project is part of Kilgraston’s Women and Business initiative, which brings industry specialists into the school to speak about their chosen profession.
“Someone put the kettle on..!”
(l-r) Dorothy MacGinty, Clare Pinchbeck, Gary Paterson and Kilgraston pupils working on the tea’s logo design at the T’Go studios
Kilgraston’s Women and Business initiative continues with a talk by legal expert
Family Law expert, Nyree Conway - a solicitor with Thorley Stephenson SSC - visited the School on 24 January as part of the Women and Business initiative to speak to Fifth and Sixth Form pupils about a career in the legal profession.
During the lecture, Nyree explained her route from reading Law at Glasgow University to her current position as the Edinburgh firm’s only female Director. “I really love what I do,” said Nyree, “specialising in this particular field, you have to be good at listening and negotiating - it’s all about the people.”
Nyree told the girls how she briefly considered a career in accountancy but soon realised her true calling was law: “Roughly two thirds of my university contemporaries progressed to accountancy and management consultancy, but pretty early on I decided I wanted to concentrate on a legal career, earning a traineeship in criminal law.”
She went on to describe how earning a degree in Scottish Law is a much-coveted qualification and opens doors and possibilities around the world: “One of my best friends works in Australia. Having completed his Law degree he took his CA qualification and now works for as a fund manager in Sydney.”
Entering the legal process was, Nyree said, all down to the traineeship and often you had to plan well ahead: “Bigger law firms recruit up to two years in advance,” she said, “They operate a rotation system, usually of around three months, in tax/family/corporate/conveyancing, giving you a ‘taster’ of each specialty.”
The Scottish Legal News was highlighted as a good place to look for opportunities but, as someone whose remit includes recruitment at TS, she also pointed out that there is still an “argument for a personal, well written letter, detailing your experience.”
Nyree, told the girls that there was no such thing as a “typical day” as a family lawyer and often she would have to dash from client meetings to law courts, with work frequently taking her all over Scotland: “You have to employ a huge range of skills on a daily basis.”
Girls heard how Nyree had been a Director since September 2016, having initially joined the family law division as associate in 2014, “Be ambitious, there’s a lot of opportunity out there.”
There were lots of questions from the ‘courtroom’ including: “What would you have read at university if it hadn’t been Law?” “History,” and”Can you work in England after qualifying in Scotland?” “Yes, after a one year conversion course.”
“A really inspiring insight,” one Sixth Form pupil, “It was great to hear first-hand how her career had progressed and the experience she had gained along the route. It definitely sounds like a very worthwhile degree to gain.”
Headmistress, Dorothy MacGinty, said: “These sort of opportunities and connections are invaluable. Planning your tertiary learning and career can be a daunting process; hearing from an industry insider gives an unparalleled understanding of what’s really involved with a job.”
In February, Kilgraston will welcome Procurator Fiscal, Karon Rollo, as part of the Women and Business series of lectures.
Kilgraston would like to thank Nyree very much for having come to the School.
(l-r) Dorothy MacGinty, Headmistress of Kilgraston School, Nyree Conway from Edinburgh legal firm, Thorley Stephenson, and pupils at the Women and Business talk on January 24 2020
