BEFORE GORDONSTOUN |
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In the 1600s Gordonstoun was owned by the eccentric Third Baronet Sir Robert Gordon - known as The Wizard due to his fascination with alchemy. Legend has it that Sir Robert sold his soul to the Devil, in return for knowledge. The Devil’s price? Sir Robert’s soul at some time in the future. So, as the legend goes, Sir Robert built Round Square - a distinctive building constructed in a perfect circle - to protect himself, as there were ‘no corners for the Devil to hide behind’. |
Gordon lost his nerve and fled to Birnie Kirk, but hounds accompanying the Devil killed him before he arrived. It’s a good story. The reality, however, is that Sir Robert died in his bed in 1704. His widow erected the Michael Kirk, a small church on the school grounds, in his memory. In the 1950s Round Square became a boarding house and it remains in use to this day. |
FOUNDING GORDONSTOUN |
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Gordonstoun school was founded in 1934 by German educationalist Dr Kurt Hahn. Hahn was born in 1886 in Berlin, to Jewish parents. As a young man he attended Heidelberg, Gottingen and Oxford universities and later founded Salem School in Germany with former German Chancellor Prince Max of Baden. |
Hahn spoke out against the Nazis and was arrested when Hitler came to power, only being released following the intervention of some influential friends. But Germany was no longer safe for him, so he escaped to the peace and tranquillity of Moray, a part of Scotland he loved. He leased and then bought the Gordonstoun estate, which has a history dating back to the 13th century. |
PRINCE PHILIP OF GREECE |
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Kurt Hahn arrived at Gordonstoun with two of his students from Salem, Mark Arnold-Foster and Jocelin Winthrop Young (who later played a key role in founding the Round Square Conference). They were soon joined by Prince Philip of Greece, who would go on to marry HM Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Philip joined Gordonstoun in 1934 at the age of 13 and attended the school for five years. |
His Royal Highness was very happy at Gordonstoun and deeply influenced by his time here. He was a member of the ‘Watchers’ (a precursor to the Coastguard service) and developed his life-long love of the sea. An excellent all-round athlete - and Captain of Cricket and Hockey - he became ‘Guardian’ (Head Boy) in his final year and took part in the ‘Moray Badge’, the inspiration for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. |
MORAY BADGE |
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The ‘Moray Badge’ was a way for young people in the local area to experience Kurt Hahn’s unique educational model, by taking part in challenging activities. Such was its success, in 1956 Prince Philip agreed to give his name to what became the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. |
It has since spread to over 140 countries and millions of young people have taken part in it. Throughout his life, Prince Philip took great pleasure in presenting gold awards to its proud recipients. |
EDUCATING ROYALTY |
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Such was Gordonstoun’s impact on HRH Prince Philip, he wanted his three sons to come here. The decision to send the heir to the British throne to school was a significant departure from the norm – Prince Charles was the first Prince of Wales not to be educated by private tutors. One newspaper even described it as “spectacular”, saying that for the first time an heir was being brought up in a “pretty classless society”. |
Prince Charles arrived in May 1962. His boarding house was called Windmill Lodge and included all the latest mod cons. The Prince of Wales’ life of service, love of the outdoors, enjoyment of the arts and intellectual curiosity were all nurtured during his five years at school. |
The future King’s brothers - Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - also attended Gordonstoun. Princess Anne was not eligible (Gordonstoun was an all-boys school at the time), but her children Peter Philips and Zara Tindall attended the school. Other famous alumni include Olympian Heather Stanning, musician Roy Williamson (composer of Flower of Scotland), author William Boyd, Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son), Jason Connery (son of Sir Sean Connery) and Daily Mail owner Lord Rothermere. Our school also has a curious association with fictional character Lara Croft – her biography states that, as a former sixth-form pupil, Gordonstoun was where she ‘discovered’ her love of adventure! |
BECOMING CO-EDUCATIONAL |
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In 1972 we became one of the first public schools to go completely co-educational. As a result, girls at Gordonstoun became some of the first female firefighters in the UK, attended emergencies in the school’s fire engine as part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. |
SUMMER CAMPS |
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In 1976 we established one of the first and most successful international summer school programmes, starting with 23 students. The Gordonstoun International Summer School now welcomes over 300 students from all over the world. |
GORDONSTOUN TODAY |
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Today Gordonstoun is a thriving school for young people, with more than 550 students in our prep and senior schools. Our focus remains on character education, with research by Edinburgh University proving the long-term benefits of our uniquely broad curriculum. Gordonstoun was described as ‘outstanding’ and ‘sector-leading’ by inspectors in 2019. |
