Gordonstoun School

A wooded estate set on 200 acres in northern Scotland, Gordonstoun holds the distinction of being one of the United Kingdom’s top full- boarding schools. Dr. Kurt Hahn, the founder of Gordonstoun, created the motto “Plus est en vous”, which means “There is more in you”. Dr. Hahn’s carefully selected motto perfectly summarises Gordonstoun’s deep commitment to helping all students develop lasting and valuable life skills as they increase their academic knowledge. Its 500 pupils range in age from four years to 18 years old. Gordonstoun consists of one main building called Gordonstoun House which contains some staff accommodation while also serving as the school’s administrative hub. Girls and boys between 13 and 18 years of age live among seven boarding houses. The expansive acreage of Gordonstoun also includes a Junior School for pupils ages 13 and under. Its dedicated and caring staff help 13-year-old students make a smooth transition from Junior School to Senior School when the time comes for them. The Gordonstoun Library and Archives, along with the Round Square Boys’ House, are all housed within the iconic Round Square building which gives its name to the Round Square group of schools which all share the same Hahn educational ethos.. Gordonstoun has stood for 80 years with many external changes over the decades. It now has a Performing Arts Centre that includes a theatre along with space for dance studios and drama rehearsals. A Sports Centre with highly advanced features completes the upgrades they have made to date. One thing that has not changed in all this time is Gordonstoun’s unwavering belief in preparing students for success in life alongside their rigorous academic requirements. Gordonstoun´s broad curriculum impels students to participate in sail training, expeditions into the Scottish highlands, service to the community and performing arts as well as their academic studies. The physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our pupils is a primary concern at Gordonstoun as is their healthy personal development. At the Senior School level, Housemasters and Housemistresses oversee the students in their boarding house with care and compassion. They are key members of the pastoral team at Gordonstoun and live in the boarding houses with their families. There are seven boarding houses for students in mixed age groups. They offer single-gender boarding only with five houses available for boys and three for girls. Their housemasters and housemistresses oversee all the pastoral needs the students have, supported by an extensive pastoral team consisting of the Deputy Head Pastoral, a school counsellor, a team at the school´s onsite Health Centre (who deal with all the students medical needs), academic tutors and an assistant housemaster or housemistress. In the Junior School the boarding students sleep in dormitories with a maximum of five others. They understand the importance of personalisation among children this age and allow them to decorate the bed in their cabin however they would like.

show less