School Information
As well as preparing students for exams, Gordonstoun prepares them for
life. The School’s uniquely broad curriculum encourages every individual to
fulfil their potential academically, but it does more than that. It encourages
students to fulfil their potential as human beings. The School motto is
‘Plus Est En Vous’ – ‘There Is More In You’. At Gordonstoun, this sense of
possibility is presented to its students, every single day.
Gordonstoun has been described as ‘outstanding’
and ‘sector-leading’ by HM Inspectors in 2019.
Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun’s remarkable location on a 200-acre woodland estate in
the north of Scotland provides the background for its world beating
outdoor education programme. Gordonstoun was the birth place of both
the Outward Bound Movement and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and
expeditions to the Scottish Highlands or sail training on the School’s 80ft
Sailboat are an integral part of the School’s day-to-day life. Students gain
invaluable experience in being both leaders and team players and in having
compassion and understanding for their fellows – and of themselves.
Active engagement in service to the local community also comprises a
core part of Gordonstoun’s ‘working week’, further expanding the students’
sense of personal and social responsibility and building self-esteem.
Gordonstoun follows the English GCSE and A-level curriculum. With a staff/
pupil ratio of 1:7 and every student’s progress carefully overseen by their
tutor, they go on to universities, colleges and art schools all over the world.
The students at Gordonstoun inhabit a community which is both
balanced and internationally dynamic. Pupils live and learn alongside
fellow students from across the social, cultural and geographical board.
Because Gordonstoun is one of the few remaining full boarding schools,
it has a seven- day programme which ensures that students are happily
integrated and engaged. This also affords the opportunity to make full
use of the comprehensive facilities on offer – which includes an expansive
sports centre, a drama and dance centre and music studios.
The uniquely all-round education on offer at Gordonstoun provides its
students with the chance to develop intellectually, emotionally, physically
and spiritually because Gordonstoun understands that the broader the
experience the broader the mind.
“It wasn’t until we saw the curriculum and the schedule of what they would be doing each day
that we truly understood the difference between Gordonstoun and other schools.” – Current parent
Scholarships and Bursaries
Address
Open on Google Maps- Address Gordonstoun School
- Borough Elgin
- Zip/Postal Code IV30 5RF
- Phone: +44 (0)1343 837829
- Fax: +44 (0)1343 837808
- Email: admissions@gordonstoun.org.uk
- Website: www.gordonstoun.org.uk
News
Gordonstoun Student Wins National Photography Competition
A student in Moray has won a national photography competition. Olivia Barnett, who was aged 17 when she entered the competition and in her final year of studies at Gordonstoun, won first prize in the national finals of a competition for young photographers held by Rotary Club of Great Britain & Ireland. The theme of
GORDONSTOUN SUPPORTS CALL FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS
Gordonstoun, the Moray boarding school which inspired the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, supports a call for at least one week of residential outdoor education to be compulsory in all Scottish schools. A formal consultation opened today on a Member’s Bill put forward by Liz Smith MSP which would place a requirement on all local authority
“You Have Two Minutes to Pack your Bag” Gordonstoun Students Taste Refugee Life to Raise Money for Ukraine
Students at Gordonstoun had taste of life as a refugee in order to raise money for the victims of the conflict in Ukraine. They were told they had just two minutes to pack a small bag for a long journey before setting out on a sponsored walk. Organiser and Gordonstoun teacher Dill Lawson Johnston said,
HRH The Princess Royal Shown Prince Philip School Archives at Gordonstoun
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal viewed archive material relating to her late father’s school days on a visit to Gordonstoun today (10.3.22). Gordonstoun Guardian Erin Bell (Head Student) showed The Princess examples of the original Moray Badge which HRH The Prince Philip won at school and which inspired The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. Erin
Gordonstoun offers training to help Handforth Parish Council operate in harmony
Gordonstoun has offered the members of Handforth Parish Council training to improve their meeting skills by inviting them to an online event designed to teach students better dialogue skills. Handforth Parish Council gained fame earlier this month when a meeting descended into chaos and members were ejected from a Zoom call by clerk Jackie Weaver.
Gordonstoun welcomes back Junior Duke Awards
An award scheme pioneered by a teacher at Gordonstoun has “come home” to the Moray-based school. The Junior Duke Awards are the brainchild of a teacher from Glasgow, who felt that there should be a junior version of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to encourage primary-aged children to learn life skills. The Duke of Edinburgh’s
Gordonstoun’s ‘outstanding’ approach praised by inspectors
Gordonstoun School has been described as ‘outstanding’ and ‘sector leading’ in a report published by inspectors from Education Scotland. The school is described as having a “positive, caring, family ethos” which “promotes a sense of trust, respect and kindness for all.” The inspectors noted that children were “motivated, eager to learn and very proud of
Youngest ever pupils to join Gordonstoun Junior School
Gordonstoun Junior School will open its doors to a new Year 1 class in September 2019. This is a class for boys and girls who are four years old by the end of February – the same age as children joining P1 in local Primary Schools. The new pupils will be stretched and challenged in
Former Gordonstoun pupil aids Thai cave rescue
A former Gordonstoun pupil recently assisted with the rescue of 12 footballers and their coach. Connor Roe, who left the school in 2008, was called to help with the final phase of the rescue operation as a cave diver by the British Cave Rescue Council. He was one of eleven cave divers working alongside the Thai
Swimming with dolphins at Gordonstoun
While taking part in one of their weekly training sessions on the Moray Firth, the Gordonstoun Surf Lifesaving students encountered a pod of 10 dolphins. They were about to end their training session for the afternoon when they were suddenly joined by the dolphins for half an hour of fun in the water. This is
Gordonstoun appoints progressive new leadership team
Gordonstoun announced today that it has appointed Lisa Kerr as Principal. The appointment is part of a re-structuring of the leadership team of the school which includes the appointment of Gordonstoun alumnus and current Head of the Senior School, Titus Edge, as Headmaster and Hugh Brown the Finance Director. Ms Kerr will take over from
Gordonstoun Students Celebrate Roots Of DofE In Fundraising Walk
On Wednesday 29 June 2016, on the penultimate day of term, all students at Gordonstoun undertook a DofE Diamond Challenge, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the DofE Award, which has its origins at Gordonstoun. Each student, aged 7 to 18 will opted to walk a designated route back to the school of varying levels
Gordonstoun Appoint Dr Eve Poole As Chairman Of The Governors
The Board of Governors of Gordonstoun is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Eve Poole as Chairman. Dr Poole, who lives in Edinburgh, has a degree in Theology from Durham University, an MBA from Edinburgh, and a PhD in Capitalism and Theology from Cambridge. She is Associate Faculty at Ashridge Business School, where she
Gordonstoun Featured In The Independent
Gordonstoun School has been featured in The Independent newspaper in an article entitled: “Where Gordonstoun leads will other British Schools follow?” You can read the story at the following link or read the text below: Article © of Richard Garner (The Independent) Where Gordonstoun leads will other British schools follow? Prince Charles may have hated his time
Gordonstoun’s Success at the Olympics
This year we are so proud to have had three OGs representing their country in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Zara Phillips (Plewlands 1999) won a Silver Medal as part of the GB Eventing Team. Great Britain won the medal after a thrilling finale to the equestrian team eventing competition. Zara performed a faultless round
Heather scoops Britain’s First Gold Medal
Former Plewlands House girl, Heather Stanning, along with her rowing partner, Helen Glover, have become the first athletes to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games for Team GB. We are all so incredibly proud of Heather's achievements since leaving Gordonstoun in 2003. As an Army Scholar, both at school and university, her
Gordonstoun unveil major development programme!
The Gordonstoun Board of Governors has just unveiled a major development programme which will secure Gordonstoun's future as one of the world's leading international boarding schools. In a letter to parents, former students and all other members of the Gordonstoun community the Principal, Simon Reid, outlined the School's exciting plans which, over the next five
GORDONSTOUN CHAMBER CHOIR SINGS AT A ROYAL WEDDING
GORDONSTOUN CHAMBER CHOIR SINGS AT A ROYAL WEDDING The Gordonstoun Chamber Choir had the honour of performing at the wedding ceremony of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall on Saturday 30 July. 19 students came back to Gordonstoun in their summer holidays for three days of rehearsals to prepare for the wedding. They travelled down to