Independent Education Today magazine highlights Kilgraston’s Women and Business events
Started at the beginning of 2019’s academic year and designed to give Kilgraston’s Senior School pupils the opportunity to meet industry experts and learn more about various careers, the programme has caught the press’ attention with this months’s much-respected Independent Education Today magazine featuring the initiative.
“The aim is to turn the school into an industry hub,” commented Kilgraston’s Head, Mrs MacGinty: “becoming the go-to destination for ambitious girls looking to enter the world of business, knowing that they will be nurtured and mentored, fully developing their entrepreneurial spirit.”
Daily Telegraph journalist, Judith Woods, visited Kilgraston during September, subsequently writing about her day with the pupils in her weekly newspaper column: “They (the pupils) want to fulfil their potential, in the classroom, on their mandatory cross-country runs and in their chosen fields of endeavour,” she enthused.
Later this month, tax specialists from Saffery Champness will be spending time with pupils.
During spring 2020, Nyree Conway, a Director with leading Scottish law firm, Thorley Stephenson SSC, together with a Procurator Fiscal and a Consultant Dermatologist, will, independently, spend time talking discussing their respective careers with senior school pupils.
During the visit from Hettie’s Teas, owner Clare Pinchbeck commented: “Logos, branding, names and promotional ideas were all discussed. Girls were very engaged. They were surprised that the product didn’t start with the tea but with a business plan instead.” She continued: “Girls’ wanted their tea to make drinkers feel ‘bubbly’, ‘invigorated’, ‘driven’ and ‘full of energy’. The creative energy from them was amazing, they just ran with it and their ideas for the brand and logo were superb and are now being carried forward into a viable product.”
Daily Telegraph columnist answers the (many) questions as part of Women and Business programme
More used to asking, rather than answering, the questions, the Daily Telegraph journalist gamely spent four hours with the tough young interrogators: “There was no slacking,” she said, “you have some keen news-hounds here, they really put me through my paces!”
Judith Woods is based in London having had a career that has taken her all over the globe.
Born in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, the youngest of five girls, she left home aged 18 to read German at Edinburgh University where she was an active member of the student theatre, appearing in numerous fringe festival comedy shows. During this time she also spent a year living in Berlin.
Judith graduated with a first class degree and joined a local, free, newspaper in Edinburgh, training on the job. She went on to work for the Edinburgh Evening News, speech radio and then The Scotsman, before receiving a call from The Daily Telegraph in London.
A contemporary of the now Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, she used to catch the same bus, as the peer, to work while he too was working at the Telegraph. She noticed that he always sat at the very front of the bus (he does, as we know, like buses!) and didn’t seem to understand how to fold a newspaper, bundling all the billowing pages into a great big ball.
Commenting on an interview with Theresa May MP, Judith told the girls: “Prime ministers are tough but a lot easier than teenagers, let me tell you,” she continued: “At Kilgraston there’s no messing, they get straight to the point and don’t give up until they have the answer they want!”
Head of Kilgraston, Dorothy MacGinty, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Judith. So many fantastic stories, she was such an inspiration to all of the girls.” Swimming with hammer-head sharks, travelling with Peruvian vigilantes, attending star-laced Oscar parties and interviewing teenage ‘influencer’ Zoella were just some of the subjects covered by the journalist. “A real eye-opener,” said Mrs MacGinty, “we were very grateful to Judith for giving up a whole day of her time, it was a a fascinating journey.”
Daily Telegraph article mentioning Kilgraston on 4.10.19
Highland dancing and hospitality for Indian teens
“It’s not just about seeing the sights,” said organiser, Chaplain Paul Allaker. “Giving the girls a full immersion into our country’s ethos is all part of their experience and that includes pointing a few toes with a traditional dance!”
Three years ago, Kilgraston School embarked on an ambitious exchange programme with UWS. The school is one of the India’s top all-girl boarding schools, located in Dehradun, near Mussoorie, in the Himalayan foothills, about 180 miles north of New Dehli. The idea was to create an international ‘twinning’ programme with mutual benefits for pupils and staff in both schools. This month sees UWS come to Perthshire for the fourth time.
Visits to Scone Palace, Perth Museum, an evening at the Dundee Rep Theatre for a production of ‘Tay Bridge’, Edinburgh and Stirling Castles and the Birks of Aberfeldy have all stopped the grass growing under their girls’ feet: “We’ve learnt so much about your lovely country in such a short time,” said 17 year old Aadrika, “We were warned that we might use an umbrella every day but, so far, it hasn’t been needed!”
Last year, Kilgraston pupils made a reciprocal trip to Dehradun and in October 2020 another group will visit India. “It’s such an amazing opportunity for both parties to exchange ideas, cultures and traditions, as well as learn about native foods and costumes,” said Mr Allaker.
The UWS girls have interspersed tourist attractions throughout Scotland with days of lessons. Fifteen year old Ashwina immediately noticed a different teaching approach to the one adopted in India: “At our school pupils stay in the one classroom and it’s the teachers who travel between rooms and we all work from a fixed pc.”
The physical set-up is not the only difference: “Learning here is much more discursive,” continued Ashwina, “a lot more thinking beyond the question, taking fewer notes and considering points more deeply.” Many similarities do exist; after English, Spanish and French are predominant languages for the Hindi-speaking youngsters and, like life at Kilgraston, sport is a daily activity for all: “Days are so hot, so we play sport in the cooler evenings,” says Aadrika.
The Mussoorie district, also known as the ‘Queen of Hills’ at 1,880 metres (6,170 ft) was once a British colonial retreat designed to help soldiers recover from serious illness: “The views are amazing,” said Aadrika.
Intricacies of the Gay Gordons were soon mastered by the light-footed youngsters as they twirled around the dance floor under the tutelage of Kilgraston pupils: “Your favourite activity perhaps?” Smiles all round. “No, that was definitely shopping in beautiful Edinburgh,” giggles Ashwina.
Teens, the same the world over!
Schools & Agents coverage of the UWS visit
Kilgraston’s environmental initiatives recognised in national awards
Over 200 entries were received in this hard-fought competition with schools of all different sizes – from tiny, rural Pre-Preps to Senior Schools who are household names – submitting entries in the 18 different categories.
Kilgraston School has been working very hard to raise awareness, and actively promote, environmental concerns and solutions.
Head, Mrs Dorothy MacGinty, said: “Naturally we are absolutely delighted that the work of our School community has been nationally recognised. However, I would like to reiterate that the environment and its protection is not just a school project; it is very much a precious commodity and something that must be treasured and respected by each and every one of us.”
This year witnessed Kilgraston’s pioneering ‘Wear it Again’ day, when all 260 pupils came to school in vintage clothing, highlighting the annual disposal of over 300,000 tonnes of wasted clothes in landfill sites.
In addition to this event, single-use plastic was banned from the campus and a ‘100-point-challenge’ initiated by pupils to look at ways that they could change their daily habits to have less impact on their immediate environment.
Along with to these initiatives, during research into avian references by Shakespeare, girls discovered that nearly 50% of the birds mentioned by the Bard in his various plays and sonnets tragically now appear on the RSPBs endangered list. “Wilt thou soon be gone?” asked The Times in the coverage of the story.
Claudia Dudman, Editor of ISP Magazine said: “Transformative and innovative projects and programmes are underway from Scotland to Cornwall; the judges have so enjoyed reading the schools’ stories.” She continued: “These Awards were initiated to recognise and applaud the varied and imaginative ways in which independent schools prepare young people for their future lives.”
Representatives from schools throughout the country, including Kilgraston, will gather at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge, London, on Monday 7 October to hear the judges’ final decision.
Kilgraston staff will, of course, be travelling by more environmentally friendly train.
(Awards featured in the Courier newspaper)
LONDON’S NATIONAL THEATRE CHOOSES KILGRASTON AS ITS ONLY PERTHSHIRE CONNECTION
Earning a place on the programme of the London-based theatre, offers pupils the opportunity to perform in front of a paying audience at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre during March 2020, under the tutelage of Directors from the National Theatre.
Additionally, performers have the added possibility of being subsequently shortlisted to perform their production at the capital’s National Theatre later in the year.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the girls,” said Hannah Murphy, Head of Drama at Kilgraston, “it’s not just about acting, although, of course, that is a huge part, but also gaining experience in every aspect of theatre production - from lighting, casting, set-design, wardrobe and make-up - under such expert guidance.”
Each year The National Theatre commissions ten new plays and invites drama groups from throughout the UK to apply for a place on the scheme for over 6,000 young people. The project brings together some of the UK’s most exciting theatre-makers of tomorrow.
“It’s going to be a huge amount of work,” said Murphy, “but to have guidance from some of the best directors in the country could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think I may be as excited as the girls!”
Kilgraston will be performing ‘The It’, by acclaimed playwright, Vivienne Franzmann, which explores teenage mental health through dark comedy. Franzmann’s first play, ‘Mogadishu’, was critically acclaimed at its première at the Royal Exchange, Manchester] and, on its subsequent transfer to London’s Lyric Theatre, it was named the “play of the year” by the Daily Telegraph.
Kilgraston pupils raise £161 for Hurricane Relief Fund
“Our Head of Junior Years, Grace R, came up with the idea of a bake sale to help those who had lost everything,” commented Mr Johnston, “after hearing the words from the bible, about the hidden power of the small seed, the girls were inspired to take action.”
The devastating cyclone recently ripped through the Bahamas and East Coast America, causing mass devastation and leaving many thousands homeless.
Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God, demonstrated that he wanted people to show love, justice and goodness to each other and build a more caring society. “I asked the girls to think of how they could show compassion and thoughtfulness to others having heard this lesson,” said Mr Johnston, “they responded with this wonderful idea, baking the cakes, advertising and marketing the sale. I am very proud of them all,” he concluded.
Tea and symphony with Contact the Elderly at Kilgraston
Forty pensioners from throughout Perthshire, Tayside and Fife travelled to the School with a volunteer driver to spend the afternoon with contemporaries and pupils and staff from Kilgraston.
“Being part of a community and able to enjoy conversation is such a vital part of life, for everyone,” said Mrs MacGinty, Head of Kilgraston, “My own mother is elderly and lives alone so I appreciate first-hand the importance of sharing time with others when you live on your own.”
Contact the Elderly is a nationwide charity dedicated to tackling loneliness and social isolation amongst older people living in the United Kingdom. Their mission is to empower older people to make new social connections and break out of the cycle of social isolation. Every month, on a Sunday afternoon (often cited as a particularly lonely time of the week) a tea party is offered by a host at a different location.
Pensioners travel to and from the difference locations with the same driver, building up a rapport and friendship. Since the first tea party was held in 1965 in London, over 100,000 people have enjoyed these occasions.
During the afternoon in Kilgraston’s atrium, guests were treated to recitals on piano (Mary O), Baritone Horn (Lucy I-H) and clarsach (L B-S), together with a solo singing performance (from Grace C).
Piano teacher, Gordon Murch, doubled as a quiz compare, creating quite a competitive edge between tables during his difficult questions on Scottish music – Harry Lauder, Kenneth McKellar and Dougie MacLean were the pin-up boys!
Contact the Elderly Support Officer, Lorna Dunbar, said: “Our guests had such a lovely afternoon in the beautiful surroundings of Kilgraston School. They thoroughly enjoyed meeting the girls and getting the chance to chat and share stories with a different generation, all washed down with lots of tea, sandwiches and delicious home baking from the pupils. Our guests usually live on their own and have difficulty getting out and about. Life can get very lonely. Having an afternoon filled with music, fun and laughter made such a difference on what can be the loneliest day of the week.”
Pupil Clara R in Upper Sixth volunteers with Contact the Elderly and was instrumental in bringing the event to Kilgraston. She said: “My mum has been a host and driver for the charity and I became involved with it, through her, about ten years ago. For me, seeing the guests’ reaction to the new locations is always such pleasure. As soon as I approached Mrs MacGinty with the idea for hosting a tea party, she was very supportive and positive. I love speaking with older people and getting their perspective and opinions.”
The Saltire Awards are the Scottish Government’s way of celebrating, recognising and rewarding the commitment, contribution and achievements of young volunteers in Scotland, aged between 12 and 25.
Pupils from the School spent Saturday evening baking cakes and treats for the guests. They were especially delighted to meet one guest who, at 85, had worked at the school in 1955 and was able to tell them something of how it looked over half a century ago.
Community work at Kilgraston School
If you would like to volunteer with the charity, or know someone who would benefit from the monthly tea parties, please contact:
Lorna Dunbar, Support Officer, Contact the Elderly, 01738 730249 or 07391 563813
A grass roots rebellion - School House discovers pupil-led initiatives, including Kilgraston’s
The autumn edition of School House magazine has just been published and features Kilgraston School in its 276 page volume. The piece about ‘Young eco-warriors’ is flagged-up on the front cover and highlights our ‘Wear it Again’ day among ideas from other schools, including plastic-free picnics, Christmas trees made from old drinks bottles and green ‘unicorns’ - mentors who monitor the environmental policies within schools.
Editor of the magazine, Annabel Heseltine, says she is: “Impressed with their commitment to go green.”
School House magazine is currently available to purchase in shops.
Kilgraston entry in School House magazine
THE WEEK - Independent Schools Guide includes Kilgraston in its ‘Best of the Best’ list
In early 2019, when Kilgraston School pupils had the idea to address the 300,000 tonnes of unused clothes being sent to landfill every year in the UK, girls couldn’t have imagined how their vintage ‘Wear it Again’ day would capture the public imagination.
But it has, in a whole list of national media.
THE WEEK’s Independent Schools Guide Autumn 2019 edition is the latest in a long line of publications to feature the idea, making Kilgraston School its ‘Best green ideas’ winner.
The full Independent Schools Guide is available in shops and some articles can be found at THE WEEK
Kilgraston School - co-curricular activities
Girls from Kilgraston School dressing in vintage fashion during the ‘Wear it Again’ day to highlight the current trend of ‘fast fashion’ which contributes to hundreds of thousands of tonnes of wasted clothing being dumped in landfill sites
Tatler praise for Kilgraston School
Industry ‘bible’ Tatler has just published its Schools Guide 2020 and didn’t we do well?!
“Visitors enjoy meeting these confident and accomplished girls,” says the anonymous Tatler ‘mole’ who reports on Kilgraston School. The School’s impressive STEM results are also highlighted, as are the new subjects on offer.
Head of Kilgraston, Mrs Dorothy MacGinty, comments: “We’re absolutely delighted to be part of Tatler. Everyone at the school works exceedingly hard and receiving this recognition is a great pat on the back for our whole community.”
The 140-page ‘Schools Guide to top prep and public schools in the UK’ comes out once a year and is eagerly awaited by all independent schools.
Tatler Education Editor, Tori Cadogan, said of entry to the publication: “They (schools) are not just chosen for their league table busting results or their world class facilities (although these are closely looked at) but to go into the Tatler Schools Guide they must offer the whole package – holistic pastoral care, a focus on character education as much as pure academics and the ability to accommodate and nurture all their pupils resulting in well educated, but most importantly, happy children.”
The Schools Guide, which accompanies the October edition of Tatler, is currently in the shops (September and early October 2019).
