Choosing a first school for your daughter is an important and challenging decision. We aim to provide you with all the information you’ll need in order to make the right choice for your family. As such, we regularly publish the outcomes from our inspection visits, so that you can be assured we’re doing everything possible to create a warm and welcoming environment here at Kilgraston.
The following report from the Good Schools Guide provides an objective and unbiased insight into the Prep School and Nursery:
Good Schools Guide: Kilgraston Prep and Nursery
Head of Junior School
Since 2011, Mrs Kathryn Ebrahim BSc PGCE. Educated at University of St Andrews and University of Dundee. Headteacher of Kingsbarns Primary School, Pittenweemem Primary, lecturer in educational management, University of Dundee, previously head of curriculum learning at Kilgraston. She has a daughter in the prep school. Bubbly, bouncy and fun, she knew the young by name and was happily arranging an interview for one of them at Bradfield College when we met (not all go on up the school). Utterly hands on, outward-going and interested, the perfect head for little people. Ticks all the boxes.
Our View
Based in the brilliantly converted stables, historic Scotland at its best; central courtyard has a sprung floor – for dances, assemblies and the like with nursery opening off one side and the prep off the other, intimate classrooms up narrow stairs, books everywhere. Delightful. Central courtyard bustling with small people during our visit (it was tipping down) though a happy hand-holding crocodile appeared from the dedicated outdoor playground.
Nursery: max 24 per session, though numbers barely that; from age two and a half, though most are three: nappies ok. Early years’ vouchers ok too, but parents must fork out £500 deposit per child before joining the school, refundable at the end pour encourager a higher staying-on rate, and about 90 per cent do; ‘good conversion’. Kilgraston prep grew out of the ashes of the posh gel’s prep: Butterstone; few, if any made the move with the school; Kilgraston profile has risen since then.
Latin and sciences from 10. Tiny classes, 10/12, max 18, all assessed for glitches, ‘qualified’ expert on hand, ‘if staff diagnose cause for concern, they have an instant referral sheet’. Jolly phonics or ‘anything else that works’. Three maths clinics a week, but more or less set for maths (‘differentiated maths classes’) from early. Lots of support.
Roughly one third boys, who leave at 9 or thereabouts either to follow the trad path to the bigger/prep schools elsewhere or opt for a junior house to one of the (usually) Scottish schools.
Boarding for girls only, from age 9, rather jolly loose boxes on the top floor, each girl has her own space, but no doors, so night time confidences easy peasy.
Most year groups spread over 18 months, scholarships on offer age 12. All use the senior school facilities, recently expanded with mega-ly qualified hockey coach and swimming star. The 11+ year olds share senior specialist staff and visit main school for lessons. Twelve year olds keen debaters often beating Glenalmond to the ribbons.