Craigclowan Preparatory School

Enough nostalgia; what of this term?

I would like to report on two major developments. Firstly, after 20 years of pestering, there seems every possibility that the road outside our entrance is to be re-organised in order to improve safety! I am promised that sometime after the new Financial Year begins in April for the Roads Department, work will begin on improving the junction. Inevitably, there will be initial inconvenience, but only for a matter of days. More news will come as we are kept informed of timetables etc.

Secondly, and following on from the announcement made on Prize Day, the Mark Taylor Trust has been launched with Charitable Status granted by OSCR, the new Charity regulatory body. Mark was a pupil at Craigclowan in the 1980s who suffered from Muscular Dystrophy. He was a shining example to us all in his short life, and the Trust is a permanent memory of Mark. The Trust has begun with 5 initial donations totalling £40,000. This is a wonderful beginning to a long term aim of raising sufficient funds to be able to help children remain at Craigclowan, or to come to us, who otherwise might not be able to attend. First requests for assistance to the Trustees, who will be James Bax, the current Chairman of Governors, myself and Russell Taylor, Mark’s father, will be considered for the academic year 2008/9. In the meanwhile, we aim to build on those initial funds as quickly as we are able. It is difficult not to appear to be begging in a sense, but if any parent is thinking of giving something to the school in the next little while, please add the possibility of a donation to the Trust. No gift is too small, and the completion of a Gift Aid form will add a tax bonus to any amount donated. The forms are available via the school office, and the Trustees can be contacted through the school address.

‘The Great Chieftain
o’ the puddin’-race’

The U-9 rugby team:
Winners of the New Park Tournament

The U-13 Winners of the Ardvreck Netball Tournament

The children have performed wonderfully well again this term. The Chess team have won the Perth and Kinross Primary Chess League, the musicians performed beautifully at Perform in Perth, the 1st XI Hockey has been the best for a number of years, the debaters, the unbeaten U-11 Netball girls and Scholarships all bear witness to the huge efforts made by everyone. Academic Scholarships have been awarded to Claire Halstead at Queen Margaret’s, York, Adeeb Naassan and Lewis Watson at Strathallan, Fern Whitelaw, Craig Meikle and Catriona Houston at Glenalmond and a Maths Exhibition has been awarded to Jack Hobhouse at Merchiston. All rounder, Sport, Music, Choral or Art Scholarships have been awarded by Glenalmond or Strathallan to Stirling Fenton, Eleanor Kemp, Hannah Johnstone, Nick Farrar, Steven Segaud, Catriona again, and Fraser Doig. All are to be congratulated.

Numbers in school are truly excellent, both now and for September. I am guilty in a sense of allowing numbers in Forms 4 to creep up. Please be re-assured that this is not a long term change. History tells us that numbers can dip when an aging Head like me moves to the mantelpiece. The fact that this has not happened is of great credit to the Governors in choosing so wisely, to you all for accepting Andy and Alex as you have, and to them for making such a good impression. Temporary steps are in place to cope with the few additional children that have resulted and I would ask for a little patience to see the Summer term through in this regard.

Thus, my ‘temporary’ holding of the reins at Craigclowan nears its conclusion. I’ll be available this week, Andy and I will be in and around school until April 18th and then he flies solo! Thank you to all of you for your patience, your support and, most of all, for your varied and talented children.