1940-1996: Pupil Admissions over the Years
Morag Aitkenhead took over the role of ‘bursar’ at Kilquhanity
The records for 1940 are either missing, incomplete or difficult to interpret. I have therefore given as 0 although I am almost certain that there were a few. In fact, one of them had perhaps arrived at the school even before the Aitkenheads had arrived for the first time.
There were also an additional 23 known pupils which were not added to the list or bar chart because the records for these children do not indicate the year they started.
Number of pupils admitted over the years
The above figures include 465 children admitted over the course of the years 1940 until 1996 when the school closed its doors. Of these 297 (64%) were boys and 168 (34%) girls.
The German Blitzkrieg in the UK started in 1940 and ran through to summer of 1941. Some ports and shipbuilding areas as well as major inland cities were targeted. Kilquhanity saw the arrival of children from some of these areas at this time. It is likely that the surge in admissions in 1942 was as a result of the school becoming known and awareness of its safe rural location away from any bomb targets. In fact, indeed the school ‘brochure’ of that period directly advertsed the fact that Kilquhanity was a safe place to stay in during the war.
From the School's original brochure
Children came and went during the 1940s, some staying for a matter of weeks reflecting this ‘place of safety’ aspect sought after by some parents and some agencies placing war orphans. However, the Anderson Report, on evacuation, published on 27th October did not mention Kilquhanity as a recommended suitable placement in Dumfries and Galloway, as Kilquhanity did not open until October 1940, too late to be included.
The report stated that,
Whether or not the civilian population were deliberately attacked, people living in industrial areas would be exposed to great dangers, especially those living in the immediate neighbourhood of important targets.’
For evacuation purposes Edinburgh, Rosyth, Glasgow, Clydebank and Dundee were determined as ‘sending areas. For each city ‘receiving areas’ were identified. For Glasgow, ‘landward areas’ in Dumfries and Kirkcudbright were included. In October 1939, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry and in May 1941, Greenock, Port Glasgow and Dumbarton were added to the ‘sending areas.
In the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright mansion houses were utilised as hostels or as boarding schools to provide accommodation for 650 children, teachers and domestic staff under the scheme. Seven of these hostels were established by the County Council. Other houses were requisitioned by the Council to provide housing and school accommodation for children suffering from ‘mental or physical defect’.
The properties were Cally House, The Cally Palace Hotel near Gatehouse of Fleet; Cargen House near New Abbey; Milton Park near Dalry; Netherlaw at Abbey Burnfoot; Slogarie in the parish of Balmaghie; Airds House which the author believes to be near Parton; Bargaly near Newton Stewart; Gelston Castle near Castle Douglas and other properties unknown to me.
The end ending of war and a return to some form of normality resulted in pupil numbers dwindling.
The 1950s saw difficult times in relation to admissions and the financial position plus the impending requirement of the Scottish Education Department that private schools must seek registration led John Aitkenhead to consider closure.
During the 1960s, as the school was changing as it entered the new cultural and political climate in the country . Rationing was over, wages and employment were higher, more families could afford to both consider payment of fees for education and were wanting to explore a world for peace.
The threat of nuclear war and the cold war, inspired the seeking of alternatives.
Gollancz published A. S. Neill’s Summerhill in 1962 which became a very popular book on alternative education. The book being read across the world with particular popularity in the USA. This led to an influx of pupils to Summerhill and Kilquhanity as well as Neill actively referring families to Kilquhanity when his provision was full, or families who had a child Neill felt inappropriate for Summerhill.Kilquhanity maintained a steady population from the mid ‘60s on until the late 1980s.
1989 sees an increase in day pupils alongside the residential provision.
1990 saw the school celebrate 50 years and it was John and Morag’s intention to announce closure of the school that year.
The response of many at that celebratory gathering was to result in a change of heart and the school remained open but with changes. John was by this time suffer health issues relating to his age and was seeking support. The 1990s saw a range of changes not least in a decision to have only day pupils and to restrict boarding when John's son, Gavin Aitkenhead took on the role of ‘head teacher’ working alongside Richard Jones.
This decision later was later reversed prior to the 1996 inspection which led to closure.