Increased interest in rural boarding schools
The pandemic has seen many people rethink their lifestyle, looking at alternative working arrangements and, where possible, seeking-out more spacious living accommodation.
Education has also been upper-most in the minds of many parents and guardians, rural boarding schools subsequently witnessing a huge spike in interest, especially from those in urban areas.
Writing about the trend in this month’s Independent Schools Magazine, Headteacher Dorothy MacGinty notes that the “domestic boarding market has seen a remarkable upsurge.”
Read the full article (page six, which also features the recent Scotland’s Boarding Schools event) here
Kilgraston has ten all-weather tennis courts and its own on-site Equestrian Centre
25.8.21
SE families flock to Scotland’s boarding schools for fresh air and freedom
Kilgraston School’s boarding is featured alongside several other leading Scottish boarding schools, highlighting the trend to move north as SE families pursue academic excellence, but with just a bit more space…and where else can you go skiing or riding straight after class..?
The Sunday Telegraph feature can be read here
Kilgraston in Tatler
23.5.21
Seeking ‘space’ and ‘fresh air’ - Scottish boarding market sees domestic, post-lockdown, uptick
Dorothy MacGinty, Head teacher of Kilgraston School: “Life at a boarding school is always challenging but, like everywhere else, the last fourteen months have been specifically difficult for myriad reasons. Apart from ensuring pupils were academically and pastorally fulfilled, an independent school is a multi-million pound, international business and, obviously, Covid-19 has thrown-up many additional hurdles to parents from abroad contemplating sending their child to a British boarding school.”
Mrs MacGinty continued: “However, life is always surprising. Interest from the domestic boarding market has seen a remarkable upsurge. Parents (and their daughters) are quoting ‘space’, ‘smaller classes’, ‘fresh air’ and, most interestingly, ‘having a bedroom to escape to and their own personal space’ as the last few months have been so confined. Also fascinating is the move from the English GCSE and A-Level curriculum to our SQA, Highers and National Fives. Parents from down-south are clearly thinking ahead to university places and now seeing the Scottish school timetable as positive move to getting into Scottish universities.”
The full article can be read here: Daily Telegraph
Kilgraston attends Scotland’s Boarding Schools event
Kilgraston is delighted to be part of the first ever Scotland’s Boarding Schools event, which is taking place virtually Saturday 22nd May.
At the event 14 leading Scottish boarding schools will come together to showcase the range and quality of boarding schools in Scotland. They offer an enviable range of outdoor pursuits with the incredible Scottish landscape always playing a part.
Families will have the opportunity to meet with some of Kilgraston’s senior team including our Headmistress, Mrs Dorothy MacGinty, and our Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Deirdre McCormick.
The past 15 months has seen a rise in demand for Scottish boarding schools, particularly from London and city-based families.
Almost 6000 families from London alone have used the Scotland’s Boarding Schools and Scottish Council for Independent Schools websites to research boarding schools in Scotland over the past year.
Admissions teams say interest seems to be driven by the effects of lock-down and parents’ desire for their children to grow up in with access to wide open spaces.
Director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, John Edward, said:
“During lock-down many families were cooped up together in major cities like London and dreamed of an idyllic childhood with easy access to wide open spaces and a safe environment. That is something that Scotland has in spades and our members are seeing an increase in inquiries from city-based families as a result.”
Kilgraston looks forward to meeting with families at the event.
Find out more here.