School of happy girls in Scotland, Kilgraston School

During his last tour of international schools, I visited one of the best schools for girls in Scotland Kilgraston School. The first thing I noticed when I walked on campus, is incredibly happy and smiling students. When I asked whether they like to study here, the girls jumped with delight and clapped their hands, expressing happiness. I've never seen such reaction in any school I visited! So the first question I asked the representatives of Kilgraston School was how they can make kids so happy at school. In their impressions of the school, In this review I will talk about the sports highlight of Kilgraston School and academic performance of girls in the disciplines where the primacy in co-educational schools traditionally are given to the boys.

As I was told, the secret of happy students is quite simple: to care for every child. Teachers and school staff have special approach to every girl they know what are problems of each student and always try to help them. Besides, the school is relatively small, so the teachers can have more time to devote to their wards. Every week there is a school meetings where we discuss the top news and build joint plans.

In Kilgraston there is a Scottish system of education, in senior classes of high school girls studying Scottish Highers. there is no A-level program in the school but some subjects can be studied at A-level, for example, art, or popular among the Russian-speaking discipline - Russian language.

As I was explained by the representatives of the school, the difference between the British system and Scottish Highers is in the flexibility of the latest. Students study Highers over the last 2 years. They choose 5 subjects for the first year of their study at standard level and one on advanced. But if after the first academic year the students have received the required passing score for admission to the University they can enroll immediately after the first year without having to finish the second year. The students can choose subjects from a wide list of disciplines.

Of the latest school innovations I was able to learn about a special program of Kilgraston school - Diploma. This is extra certificate which helps girls to develop their skills in 5 areas: personal growth, social awareness, intellectual development, faith, and public works. For example, girls are involved in school activities to help younger and to volunteer. The program teaches girls to become more independent and to look at the wider world.

I should specially mention the equestrian center of the school, it's really impressive. In my memory there are a few schools could boast of such place on campus. Kilgraston is the only school in Scotland with its equestrian centre. Of course, pupils can also enjoy horse riding as a sport. The school has all the conditions. There is alos summer camp for children aged 8-17 years old during July which are open to girls and boys. There is a separate program English + horse riding, but you need to book in advance as waiting list is long and horses are limited. In addition, local Scots love to bring their children to the new equestrian center of the school. So, an additional advantage for foreign students who enroll into program – mix with local kids after language classes.

I have repeatedly faced with the concerns of parents to send their daughters to girls schools and I have good arguments that demonstrate the advantages of separate schools. After having visited the school and talked to the staff I have no doubt that girls are very happy in single sex schools, especially Kilgraston. Parents often worry that girls are isolated from boys and don´t socialize together. In Kilgraston School there are no such isolation: they are friends with the school for boys in Edinburgh and  have common events and visit each other's school. Children tie a strong friendship and continue to communicate for a long time.

From an academic point of view the advantage of girls schools is obvious - the girls are not distracted from studying. Moreover, they are free to choose the subjects that in co-educational schools more popular with boys, for example, engineering, science or math. Pupils demonstrate high results in all disciplines and the school is ranked as one of the top schools of Scotland. Over the past few years students have enrolled at top universities, including Oxford and Imperial College London, and what is most interesting many for engineering programs.

I must say that Kilgraston School has all conditions for comprehensive development of girls, so I would recommend parents to pay attention to this Scottish school for their daughters.

Find out more about the school on aspect.ua