A Perthshire private boarding and day school is set to be saved from closure.
Kilgraston School is in advanced discussions with education provider, Achieve Education Limited, to safeguard the future of the school and provide "much-needed financial strength and stability".
Achieve Education’s primary objective will be to turn around the fortunes of Kilgraston School and ensure its long-term future.
It was announced last Thursday by the board of trustees at the Bridge of Earn institution that it would cease operations from June 24.
In response a Kilgraston Action Group was formed on Friday to raise £2m in the space of a week to save the school. In 48 hours £1.2m was donated.
And now the latest development will bring relief to staff, parents and pupils alike.
Achieve Education says it will continue to provide the "same ethos, values and traditions" that pupils and parents have come to expect throughout its 96-year history.
It is envisaged that:
- Kilgraston’s Senior School will remain a school for girls
- The Junior School will continue to be co-educational for pupils up to the age of 12
- The school will retain its Sacred Heart ethos and its membership of the Sacred Heart Society
- Pupils of different backgrounds and faiths will continue to be welcomed
- A new board of directors will be appointed to replace the school’s existing Governor and Trustee structure
The group will work in partnership with headteacher Mrs Tanya Davie and her team, who will continue to lead the school under the guidance of the Achieve Education Advisory Board, and actively support in the transition.
Achieve Education’s board of directors includes Michael Farmer and Barry Farrell.
Michael Farmer is a former headteacher of the school. During his tenure, the school achieved the highest growth rate within its sector, and was recognised nationally in 2011 by being named the UK Independent School of the Year.
Barry Farrell previously joined Kilgraston School in 2000 as Bursar and helped turn the school’s financial position around into one of profitability.
This was also recognised at the Independent School Awards 2011, with Kilgraston winning the prize for Outstanding Commercial/Financial Initiative.
A joint statement from Kilgraston School, Achieve Education Limited and the Parents Steering Committee said: “We acknowledge the immense efforts and commitments of Kilgraston School’s parents, guardians, alumnae and other benefactors and it is this support and loyalty that has been a key factor in Achieve Education Limited moving quickly to keep the school open.
“We would like to work closely with parents and guardians, now and in the future, to restore faith in the school and the outstanding educational and pastoral opportunities it offers.
“We will now work in good faith, as quickly as we can, to try and achieve legal completion of this proposal in conjunction with parents, guardians, pupils and staff.
"It is all our hopes that Kilgraston School will have a bright, long and successful future.”
Achieve Education Limited already works with many of the leading schools in England and currently places over 200 overseas students in the UK.
