Butterstone House School

Butterstone House Preparatory School was the only completely independent boarding preparatory school for girls in Scotland,[1] until its merger with Kilgraston School in 2003.[2]

Butterstone House School
Address
Arthurstone House

, ,
PH12 8QW

Information
TypePreparatory school
Established1947
FounderThe Hon Elizabeth Lyle
Closed2003
GenderGirls
Age8 to 13

History edit

Butterstone House Preparatory School was founded in 1947 by The Hon Elizabeth Lyle, the younger daughter of Sir Archibald Sinclair of Ulbster, MP for Caithness and Sutherland, leader of the Liberal Party, Winston Churchill's wartime Secretary of State for Air and in 1952 created Viscount Thurso.[3] Between 1947 and 1991 the school was located at Butterstone House, near Dunkeld in Perthshire.[1]

Elizabeth Langlands was headmistress between 1973 and 1987.[4] Langlands was succeeded by Christopher Syers-Gibson who remained at the school until his retirement in 1998.[5]

Under the guidance of Christopher Syers-Gibson, the school moved to larger premises at Arthurstone House, Meigle, in 1991.[6] (In 1992 Baroness Linklater of Butterstone, established the New School, Butterstone to cater for children with special needs.)[7]

In June 2003, Butterstone announced that they would be merging with Kilgraston School, Bridge of Earn.[8]

Notable alumni edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Christopher Syers-Gibson". The Scotsman. 4 December 1998. p. 20. ProQuest 326763931. His tenure as headmaster of Butterstone School covered a time both of enormous achievement and radical change. Situated in a charming family-sized property and founded by the Hon Mrs Lyle in 1947, it had the distinction of being the only completely independent boarding preparatory school for girls in Scotland
  2. ^ "Parents' fury at school merger". The Scotsman. 25 June 2003. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  3. ^ "The Hon Elizabeth Lyle". The Times (Obituary). 17 June 1994. ProQuest 318126132.
  4. ^ "Elizabeth Langlands". The Scotsman. 25 November 2002. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Christopher Syers-Gibson". The Scotsman. 4 December 1998. p. 20. ProQuest 326763931. Christopher Syers-Gibson had recently retired after serving for 12 years as headmaster of Butterstone School, Perthshire
  6. ^ "Christopher Syers-Gibson". The Scotsman. 4 December 1998. p. 20. ProQuest 326763931. In fact, it was as much for love of him as for the school that over 100 parents, pupils, staff and friends took up paint brushes and sewing machines, or wielded spanners and chainsaws to ensure that the school's move to its new premises, Arthurstone House, in 1991 was achieved in time for the beginning of the new term
  7. ^ a b "The toff at the top". The Herald. 27 June 1998. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Parents threaten legal action in schools merger row". The Herald. Glasgow. 25 June 2003. p. 10. ProQuest 332900483.
  9. ^ "North Pole, South Pole, now Rosie is ready for her biggest challenge ..as a mum; BABY MISSION: Scots-educated explorer plans to take on the toughest task she'llever face ... becoming a mother". Daily Record. Scotland. 29 January 2000. pp. 10–11. ProQuest 327585134.