74% of our pupils achieved Grade A at National 5 level

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Sports Day 2021 - Seniors and Juniors

On a glorious sunny day in June, Kilgraston’s athletics track and playing fields were awash with colour. It could only mean one thing: Junior Sports Day.

From 100m races to the sack race, there were points to win for all different ages and classes. The hotly contested staff v pupil relay saw pupils comfortably beat staff, a sign of things to come for the Seniors Sports Day.

Taking place the following day, the Senior School event was slightly more chilly but it did not dampen spirits with some half-time outdoor musical performances by pupils. The long jump record was smashed by Upper Sixth’s Ciara.

In a nail-biting competition with only one point in it, Moncreiffe were crowned champions of the Junior Event. In the Senior School, however, Arran comfortably won the overall House trophy.

Huge well done to everyone for taking part and thank you to Mrs Ferry,Miss Patton, Mrs Findlay and all staff for organising this event.

Do visit our Instagram channel for more footage from the events including a fantastic Instagram takeover by incoming Deputy Head Girl, India.

Kilgraston pupil to play for Scotland

A Kilgraston pupil has been called up to play football for Scotland national under 17 team.

Upper Fifth’s Leah will join the Scotland women’s team at their training camp in Edinburgh this week. The fifteen year-old, who is left-sided player, currently plays for Edinburgh-based club, Spartans.

Huge well done to Leah, we are all very proud of you, and we cannot wait to hear more about your success.

You can read more about this news story here.

 

Image via Steve MacDougall/ DCT Media

Record recruitment for Kilgraston’s summer camp programme

Fresh from getting their children back to school after months of lockdown learning, parents are now turning their attention to the looming summer holiday period in a bid to satisfy offspring’s pent-up energy.

“Bookings have only been open for three weeks,” comments Donna Douglas, Kilgraston’s Summer School Course Director, “but already they are far exceeding those of the pre-Covid summer of 2019, and there are still eight weeks to go.”

While Kilgraston’s summer camps did take place during 2020’s lockdown-easing, social distancing and higher than usual teacher-to-pupil ratio requirements capped numbers: “Demand during the six-weeks was huge,” notes Douglas, “but, unfortunately, we had to disappoint many families as rules just didn’t allow us to take the numbers we’d have liked.”

But 2021 is proving to be a whole different ball game: “We had 510 visitor days’ booked over Easter,” continues Douglas, “and summer confirmations are already well over those of 2019 levels.”

Being asked to provide packed lunches and snacks, hasn’t proved a game-changer, with parents still very keen to get kids out and about on the playing fields and equestrian centre or developing skills at the newly-announced Dance and Multi-Arts camps: “We’ve had bookings from all-over central Scotland,” Douglas says, “from north of Dundee to over the Firth of Forth. Parents are citing an emphasis on fun and energy outlets, especially with restrictions on foreign travel.”

Camps will keep age-groups together in tight ‘bubbles’, with one adult to every seven students: “Generally, children stay in small, familiar, groups all day, generating a family atmosphere,” notes Douglas, “If we reach capacity, a ‘wait-list’ is created, where additional staff will be recruited if demand dictates.”

If you’d like further information or to book a place on one of the many activities, please click here or email directly to [email protected]

Tennis at Kilgraston - the Adam Brown Doubles Open

Well done to all the girls who took part in the Adam Brown Doubles Open. This was a LTA Event (Lawn Tennis Association), featuring county level doubles pairs from around Scotland.

Kilgraston pupils who took part performed brilliantly so congratulations to Olivia and Willow who came 6th out of 10 pairs in the 12/under event.

Willow and Olivia took the overall winners to a tie - break, which is fantastic!

In a different age group, well done to Lexie who came 3rd in the 16/under’s and 3rd in the 18/under’s which is an amazing effort!

We hope to run more LTA events at Kilgraston, we’re lucky to have such a great venue for tennis so get in touch with Kilgraston’s tennis coach Billy McNeil via [email protected]

National and personal athletics success for Kilgraston pupil

Huge congratulation’s to Kilgraston School pupil, talented athlete Freya H, who took part in last weekend’s British Athletics Coventry Spring Meet, producing a personal best performance in shot-put and finishing top of the F37 classification.

Lined-up against some of the country’s best para athletes, the Sixth Form pupil was representing her hugely supportive club, Perth’s Strathtay Harriers.

Commenting on her recent performance, Club Head Coach, Jim Hunter, said: “Freya’s continual improvement - she is also a talented javelin thrower and runner - is just reward for all the hard work she has put in to this point. From a club perspective, we are really chuffed for her.”

Picking up on the story, the Daily Record ran a feature on Freya, which also highlighted the difficulties the last year of lockdown has had on athletes and the sheer dedication needed to maintain standards.

Freya competing on Saturday in Coventry on Saturday 24 April 2021

Picture credits: the Perthshire Advertiser, Richard Wilkins, & Alison Howgate

Kilgraston pupil wins place on Netball Scotland Ambassador Programme

Kilgraston pupil, Lower Sixth’s India, has just won a place on the Netball Scotland Ambassador Programme. The scheme is for young people aged between 14 and 25 years old and they are selected to represent the voice of young people. India is one of just fifteen others, and she will take part in the one year program, playing a key role in influencing the future development of netball.

India said: “I want to promote the positive values of netball as a sport and hopefully grow the future of netball by making it more diverse and adding an extra stepping stone of U19 across all levels. I am excited to meet and work with others who share my love for the sport and am proud to be a voice for the next generation of players.”

Here is our quick-fire Q&A with India:

How long have you been playing netball?

I started playing netball when I eight or nine years old. I have been playing ever since so that would be about eight years now.

What position do you typically play?

I always play in the shooting circle, preferably at GA but I often wear the GS bib. It is important to be able to play in a variety of positions across the court. This helps improve your game and is something that is encouraged by the Scotland Academy.

What teams do you play for?

I have played for many different teams over the years and currently play in the National Academy Hub, Perth & Kinross U17 District team, Perth U17 and in the Perth ladies league. I am also captain of the Kilgraston Senior Team.

What is the best thing about playing netball?

The best thing about playing netball is definitely the people you meet along the way, and the memories you share with them. I have met some of the most incredible and inspiring people on my journey. The feeling when you win a league or a tournament and can share the experience with those around you is unmatched. I have so many close friends up and down the country that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet if it weren’t for netball. Besides the social benefits, netball is great to keep you fit and healthy. It is a difficult sport to play as you need to think about so much when you are on court.

What is Netball Scotland’s Ambassador Programme?

Netball Scotland’s Ambassador Programme is a platform where young people, like myself, can share their views and influence the future development of netball in Scotland. The programme lasts one year and allows me to represent the voice of young people across Scotland.

What is the benefits of this programme?

As a Netball Scotland Ambassador, I am hoping to promote the positive values of netball and help shape the future of netball by making it more diverse. I would like to see an extra stepping-stone of an U19 age group across all levels. I am so excited to meet and work with others who share my love of netball and am proud to be a voice for the next generation of players.

What would you say to anyone who hasn’t played netball before?

I would tell anyone who hasn’t played netball before to get involved! It may seem daunting at first, but it is a team sport, and everyone is very supportive. Even if you aren’t interested in playing at a high level, it is very sociable so you will meet loads of amazing people. The netball court is a place where you can unwind and also gain lots of new skills. You never know, you might just love it!

Well done to India, and all the other Netball Scotland Ambassadors.

Kilgraston alumnae presentation - Emily Dark

We always love to hear from Kilgraston alumnae and recently, Kilgraston was delighted to welcome back (virtually), Emily Dark.

Emily graduated from Kilgraston in 2017 and is now studying physics at St Andrews University. She has also played for Scotland and one to keep an eye on for the GB squad in future years.

In her talk to pupils, Emily chartered her hockey career from when she started playing at Kilgraston at the age of eight through to being Scotland’s youngest ever capped female player, to now, when she is training as part of the GB Elite Development Programme (EDP).

Emily, who plays all positions and in 2019 competed at the Senior European Championships in Glasgow 2019 where Scotland won gold and Emily won under 21 player of the tournament, also discussed how she’s dealt with set backs and how she has a mental attitude to never give up.

Thanks to Emily for a wonderful session. You can read more about Emily’s numerous successes here.

Gold medal win for Kilgraston pupil

We are enormously proud of Kilgraston pupil Sophie who has just won a gold medal at World ITF Taekwon-Do European Championships.

Upper Fifth Sophie was the youngest person to take part in the Junior female black belt category at the online event, and is the newly crowned WITF European Patterns Champion.

Sophie said: “I am waiting on my medal to arrive and cannot wait to add it to my collection.

“Filming a pattern, submitting it, and waiting for the results is very nerve wracking. Being the youngest in the age category, I didn’t expect to place and was totally shocked to discover that I had in fact won.

“I have taken part in several competitions and received medals from competitions in the USA, Mexico, Australia, and all over Britain.

“Entering these competitions online has given me even more opportunity to compete internationally and be very successful. The team I compete with and I have been formally invited to compete in Mexico next year at the Mexican Open.