Kildegård Privatskole

Hidden within Gentofte, Kildegård Privatskole whispers a story of transformation. It began in 1870. Countess Thusnelda Moltke established a unique “Borgerskole for Pigebørn,” a school exclusively for girls, without exams. Kildegård Privatskole’s journey reflects a changing world. In 1873, Elise Bay joined, becoming a vital partner to the Countess. Bay’s adopted son became the school’s first male student. Soon, brothers of existing female students joined, blurring the lines of the traditional single-sex institution. In 1882, recognizing the evolving educational landscape, they established a separate boys’ school, led by Bay. Kildegård Privatskole’s story is one of mergers and moves. The two schools, sharing a board, operated independently, even after occupying the same building in Østersøgade in 1895. The boys’ school was known as “Østersøgades Gymnasium” (ØG), while the girls’ school remained “Comtesse Moltkes Pigeskole” (CMP). The first boys graduated from ØG in 1894. The girls received their preliminary exams from CMP in 1899. Countess Moltke, initially against exams, adapted to the changing times. In 1913, on the Countess’s 70th birthday, the schools’ future was secured through the “Institutionen E. Bays og Th. Moltkes skoler.” They remained separate, until 1947 when girls, previously limited to a “realeksamen” from CMP, were admitted to ØG’s gymnasium. The 1950s saw discussions of merging the schools under the name Østersøgades Gymnasium. This process began in 1960/61. Recognizing the limitations of their Østersøgade building, they purchased land on Kildegårdsvej 87, constructing a new school named “Kildegård Gymnasium.” The Østersøgade buildings were sold, continuing their life as “Bordings Friskole.” In 2005, the gymnasium closed, leaving the remaining school to adopt the name Kildegård Privatskole. It maintained its focus as a preparatory elementary school, serving students from kindergarten to 10th grade. From the 2020/21 school year, it serves students up to 9th grade. Kildegård Privatskole, from a girls’ school without exams to a co-educational preparatory institution, stands as a testament to adaptation and the evolving landscape of education.