Kilgraston School
Encyclopedia
56.3414°N 3.4164°W
Kilgraston School is a British independent school, founded in 1930. It is a Roman Catholic boarding and day school for girls aged 2½–18 and day boys aged 2½–9. Currently more than 340 pupils attend Kilgraston, of which 158 live at Kilgraston for either week-nights or for entire half terms. Outside of the main mansion-house there are three residential houses: girls aged 8–13 live in Butterstone, those aged 13–16 stay in Mater and have their own study bedroom, and girls aged 16–19 live in Barat or Swinton for the Sixth Form and also have their own study bedroom.
The school is centred upon a mansion
house set in 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) of parkland, at Bridge of Earn
, in Perthshire
, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Perth
and 40 minutes north of Edinburgh
, in rural countryside.
John Grant, the eldest son of Patrick Grant of Glenlochy, in Strath Spey, Inverness-shire
, and whose principal wealth was made in Jamaica
, was for several years a member of the Assembly there, becoming an assistant Judge of Jamaica's Supreme Court, and eventually succeeded Thomas French as Chief Justice
of that island in January 1783, which office he held until 1790. Also, in 1783, he was confirmed as an armiger
by the Lord Lyon King of Arms
. Grant purchased, towards the end of the 18th century, from the Murray and Craigie families, the contiguous estates of Kilgraston and Pitcaithly, situated in the east end of the beautiful and rich valley of Strath Earn, and extending over part of the Ochil Hills
. He died issueless at Edinburgh
on March 29, 1793, and is buried under a marble tablet in St Cuthbert's Churchyard. He was succeeded in his estates by his brother Francis (d. 1819, who built the mansion.
The mansion was used as a private home until World War I
during which it was used as a hospital. In 1930 the house and grounds were purchased by the Society of the Sacred Heart
and opened as a school with 40 boarders. The Society ran the school until 2000 when it became an independent Catholic school.
values fostered by the school.
in Edinburgh where there are reciprocal arrangements for fees.
Network of Sacred Heart Schools
Kilgraston School is a British independent school, founded in 1930. It is a Roman Catholic boarding and day school for girls aged 2½–18 and day boys aged 2½–9. Currently more than 340 pupils attend Kilgraston, of which 158 live at Kilgraston for either week-nights or for entire half terms. Outside of the main mansion-house there are three residential houses: girls aged 8–13 live in Butterstone, those aged 13–16 stay in Mater and have their own study bedroom, and girls aged 16–19 live in Barat or Swinton for the Sixth Form and also have their own study bedroom.
History
Kilgraston's earliest records date back to the 13th century where it was called Gilgryston.The school is centred upon a mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
house set in 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) of parkland, at Bridge of Earn
Bridge of Earn
Bridge of Earn is a small town in Perthshire, Scotland.Often referred to simply as 'The Brig' by its inhabitants...
, in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
and 40 minutes north of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, in rural countryside.
John Grant, the eldest son of Patrick Grant of Glenlochy, in Strath Spey, Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire
The County of Inverness or Inverness-shire was a general purpose county of Scotland, with the burgh of Inverness as the county town, until 1975, when, under the Local Government Act 1973, the county area was divided between the two-tier Highland region and the unitary Western Isles. The Highland...
, and whose principal wealth was made in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, was for several years a member of the Assembly there, becoming an assistant Judge of Jamaica's Supreme Court, and eventually succeeded Thomas French as Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of that island in January 1783, which office he held until 1790. Also, in 1783, he was confirmed as an armiger
Armiger
In heraldry, an armiger is a person entitled to use a coat of arms. Such a person is said to be armigerous.-Etymology:The Latin word armiger literally means "armour-bearer". In high and late medieval England, the word referred to an esquire attendant upon a knight, but bearing his own unique...
by the Lord Lyon King of Arms
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
. Grant purchased, towards the end of the 18th century, from the Murray and Craigie families, the contiguous estates of Kilgraston and Pitcaithly, situated in the east end of the beautiful and rich valley of Strath Earn, and extending over part of the Ochil Hills
Ochil Hills
The Ochil Hills is a range of hills in Scotland north of the Forth valley bordered by the towns of Stirling, Alloa, Kinross and Perth. The only major roads crossing the hills pass through Glen Devon/Glen Eagles and Glenfarg, the latter now largely replaced except for local traffic by the M90...
. He died issueless at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on March 29, 1793, and is buried under a marble tablet in St Cuthbert's Churchyard. He was succeeded in his estates by his brother Francis (d. 1819, who built the mansion.
The mansion was used as a private home until World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
during which it was used as a hospital. In 1930 the house and grounds were purchased by the Society of the Sacred Heart
Society of the Sacred Heart
The Society of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic religious congregation established in France by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in 1800. It has presence in 45 countries. Membership to the Society is restricted to women only. Its members do many works, but focus on education, particularly girls'...
and opened as a school with 40 boarders. The Society ran the school until 2000 when it became an independent Catholic school.
Present day
Today with record pupil numbers, and better than average academic results, Kilgraston is experiencing a renaissance. Recent capital investments have included the opening of a new 25m indoor swimming pool complex (May 2008) and upgrades to the equestrian centre (Kilgraston is the only school in Scotland with equestrian facilities on campus) including a 60m x 40m floodlit arena (August 2008) and a new international sized all-weather floodlit hockey pitch (June 2010). Other developments have been a new theatre with retractable seating for 150, a bistro style dining room, sports pavilion as well as an ongoing upgrade of the residential facilities. Future plans include a new Science Building as well as a brand new Sixth Form Study Centre. Kilgraston attracts pupils from across the world especially Scotland, England, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, Germany, China, the Philippines and Hong Kong. Former pupils are affectionately known as KGs. The school is known by its pupils as "Kilgy".Religion
Kilgraston remains a part of the worldwide network of Sacred Heart schools all sharing certain basic principles such as encouraging the growth of the individual while developing feelings of community and social awareness at all levels. Kilgraston has a tradition of ecumenism and welcomes pupils from all backgrounds and families in sympathy with the ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
values fostered by the school.
Socials
There are many socials with boys at the neighbouring public schools and the all boys Merchiston Castle SchoolMerchiston Castle School
Merchiston Castle School is an independent school for boys in the village of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has about 480 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 8 and 18 as either boarders or day pupils; day pupils make up 35% of the school....
in Edinburgh where there are reciprocal arrangements for fees.
Network of Sacred Heart Schools
- "Kilgraston's international links give girls the opportunity for exchanges before and after school, open a wide range of personal contacts, and have the potential for building friendships and networks which will last a lifetime."Kilgraston Website