Butterstone House Preparatory School was the only completely independent boarding preparatory school for girls in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, until its merger with

Kilgraston School Kilgraston School is an independent boarding and day school offering primary school education for boys and girls aged from five to twelve years old and girls only from five to eighteen. Boarding is available for girls only aged eight years old an ...

in 2003.

History

Butterstone House Preparatory School was founded in 1947 by The Hon Elizabeth Lyle, the younger daughter of Sir

Archibald Sinclair Archibald Henry Macdonald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso, (22 October 1890 – 15 June 1970), known as Sir Archibald Sinclair between 1912 and 1952, and often as Archie Sinclair, was a British politician and leader of the Liberal Party. Backgr ...

of Ulbster, MP for Caithness and Sutherland, leader of the Liberal Party,

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 Winston Churchill in the Second World War, dur ...

's wartime

Secretary of State for Air The Secretary of State for Air was a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state position in the British government, which existed from 1919 to 1964. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. The Secretar ...

and in 1952 created Viscount Thurso. Between 1947 and 1991 the school was located at Butterstone House, near

Dunkeld Dunkeld (, sco, Dunkell, from gd, Dùn Chailleann, "fort of the Caledonians") is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The location of a historic cathedral, it lies on the north bank of the River Tay, opposite Birnam. Dunkeld lies close to t ...

in Perthshire. Elizabeth Langlands was headmistress between 1973 and 1987. Langlands was succeeded by Christopher Syers-Gibson who remained at the school until his retirement in 1998. Under the guidance of Christopher Syers-Gibson, the school moved to larger premises at Arthurstone House,

Meigle Meigle ( gd, Mìgeil, ) is a village in Strathmore, Scotland. It lies in the council area of Perth and Kinross in the Coupar Angus and Meigle ward. It lies on the A94 road between Perth and Forfar. Other smaller settlements nearby are Balkee ...

, in 1991. (In 1992 Baroness Linklater of Butterstone, established the New School, Butterstone to cater for children with

special needs In clinical diagnostic and functional development, special needs (or additional needs) refers to individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. Guidelines for clinical diagnosis are given in ...

.) In June 2003, Butterstone announced that they would be merging with Kilgraston School,

Bridge of Earn Bridge of Earn ( gd, Drochaid Èireann) is a small town in Perthshire, Scotland. Often referred to simply as 'The Brig' (Scots Language, Scots for 'bridge'). The village grew up on the south bank of an important crossing of the River Earn, whose ...

Notable alumni

Veronica Linklater Veronica Linklater, Baroness Linklater of Butterstone (15 April 1943 – 15 December 2022) was a British Liberal Democrat politician and member of the House of Lords. Her career indicates her interests in children's welfare, education and spe ...

Rosie Stancer Rose Cecilia "Rosie" Stancer (née Clayton; born 25 January 1960) is a British explorer and polar adventurer. Youth, education, family Rosie Stancer attended Butterstone House School in Scotland and then Heathfield School, Ascot. She holds ...

References

{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1947 Defunct schools in Perth and Kinross Defunct private schools in Scotland Defunct preparatory schools in Scotland Defunct boarding schools in Scotland Defunct girls' schools in Scotland 1947 establishments in Scotland