Prizes and Ribbons…
Chairman of Board of Governors: “the constants that make up this school are strong”
At Kilgraston’s annual Prize-Giving and Speech Day on Saturday June 29, The Principal highlighted the value of perseverance, telling guests, Governors, parents and pupils that success comes from devoting 10,000 hours of practice in order to perfect a skill.
In his end-of-year speech at the Bridge of Earn all-girls school, Frank Thompson referred to research that 10,000 hours of appropriately-guided practice - in academic study, music, sport and many other settings - is the magic number of greatness, and with that level of commitment, anyone can achieve superior levels of proficiency.
In short, the research confirms the old adage that “practice makes perfect”.
Reflecting on his first year as Principal of the award-winning Perthshire school, Mr Thompson said: “This is a community where commitment and excellence matter.
“To be truly excellent requires persistent effort. 10,000 hours is ten years of hard work and, in the real world, that long experience matters. What you must do at Kilgraston is prepare. Every day, in every lesson - be it French, Business, English, Maths, Games or any other lesson - it is an hour ticked off the 10,000 hours which prepare you for life. Each block of time, so small in itself, but without the small blocks, the 10,000 cannot be attained. Each hour must be spent wisely and not wasted.”
He added: “I think the message of perseverance is particularly exemplified in Art. The worry, as a fourth former, is to look at the amazing achievements of a sixth form artist and think - I could never do that. But be inspired, not intimidated - if the sixth formers can paint as they do, then so will you, if you set your heart on it.”
He also praised sporting success at Kilgraston. “We are rightly proud of our successes, whether it be the upper Fourth winning the Scottish Cup Silver Final in Netball, our intermediate and senior riders winning the Scottish Schools Equestrian Championships at Gleneagles or the individual honours of Katie Robertson and Katie Stott in their selection for Scotland in Hockey or Rebecca Norval’s European gold medal-winning success in equine vaulting.”
Chairman of the Board of Governors Tim Hall stressed the importance of “community” at Kilgraston. “I know the work done with the Abernethy Trust, the inter-faith activities, have made this school approach life in an ecumenical and inclusive way, in its broadest sense. I know Stacey Cameron, as Chaplain, has made links with ministers from both Church of Scotland and Episcopalian churches; they have gone on to give assemblies in both the Senior and Prep schools.
“And “Community” can just be about getting out and about and sharing talents - as I witnessed at Oakley Parish Church in West Fife where twenty-four Kilgraston girls entertained a local ex-coalmining community under the guidance of Head of Music Andrew McGarva; their Les Miserables medley left strong men weeping, me included!”
And he insisted: “The constants that make up this school are strong, its pedigree fashioned out of the Sacred Heart goals, its strength of purpose in the whole education of every girl who comes here, and the unabashed striving to do well, whether academically, in music, art and theatre, or in sports.”
In closing, Mr Thompson had a message for the Upper Sixth girls who left this weekend. “We have launched you into adult life and you are ready for independence. You have been role models this year and you can still be. What you achieve at University and in your careers, share with us. We want to tell the years behind you what it is like and give them the confidence and inspiration to fly the nest too without fear but with joy and hope.”
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