Over 500 young people live at Gordonstoun, in a safe, friendly and welcoming environment. And our pastoral staff are here for every one of them, whatever the issue, whatever the time.
Houseparents - and their families and pets! - live within the boarding house. Together with Assistants and Matrons, they provide the highest level of care. Key Stage Leaders give additional support and arrange social activities such as cinema or beach trips, BBQs and ceilidhs.
Our pastoral care team also includes a counsellor, emotional guidance coach and the school Chaplain. And, of course, educational needs are a top priority. Students meet their Tutor at least once a week to discuss progress, with Tutors being a key point of contact for parents.
“The pastoral care and friendliness of the staff gives the children confidence to ask for help in the knowledge they will be supported.”
- current parent
"ABOVE ALL, COMPASSION"
- KURT HAHN
Supported and Cared For
Pastoral care that inspectors call 'outstanding', 'sector-leading', and a 'model of best practise'. Please watch out video to hear a parent dicussing pastoral care at Gordonstoun.
Matrons are part of the Boarding house team who ensure our students feel heard, supported and cared for.
SECTOR
LEADING
Outstanding Pastoral Care
Every Gordonstoun employee, regardless of their role at school, undertakes training in wellbeing, safeguarding and child protection. Education agents note our 'warm, close-knit community'.
Martin works as Assistant Head Boarding and came to Gordonstoun in 2019 after twelve years at The Royal Hospital School, Suffolk.
He has over fifteen years of pastoral and curriculum management experience in schools with ten years as a boarding Housemaster, and three years as Assistant Head.
Martin is married to Emily who is Assistant Head Pastoral in the Prep School and they have two teenage children, both of whom have attended Gordonstoun.
Charlotte joined the pastoral leadership team in the Summer of 2022 from Asia where she was previously the Deputy Head (Pastoral and Boarding) of Fettes College in Guangzhou, China; after spending three years in Jeju-do, South Korea as a Senior Housemistress.
Charlotte teaches Art and Design, as well as ISC. She is also an active member of the Coastguards service at Gordonstoun, which she loves, along with Elvis Presley, Scotland, her family & Hugo the German shorthaired pointer.
Rhian joined Gordonstoun in October 2023 as a Pastoral and Admissions Administrator. Before this she worked in hospitality for 7 years. She graduated from Heriot-Watt University in 2021 with a First-Class Honours Degree in International Business with Business Law.
Justine joined Gordonstoun in 2021 arriving from Marlborough college Malaysia, where she spent seven years as the events manager within the marketing and admissions department. Prior to this Justine enjoyed an international career working in Dubai, Switzerland and Singapore.
Justine’s passion for travel and her experience of being an overseas parent of a UK border means she understands the importance of pastoral care and communication, working with her team to provide a caring, safe environment for all those residing in Windmill Lodge.
Justine also works in the curriculum office as an administrator, further strengthening her understanding of the intricacies of life in a boarding school. She is joined at Gordonstoun by her partner Phil, who teaches in the Prep School, their dog Digby and cat Layla.
Dan has been the Houseparent of Cumming House for the past two years. After several years as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Navy he read Theology at Oriel College, Oxford, before beginning to teach. After thirteen years in a variety of academic and pastoral roles he is also responsible for leading academic enrichment, projects and Oxbridge applications.
Stuart has been Houseparent of Round Square since September 2022. He joined Gordonstoun following six years at a central Scotland boarding school, as well as Houseparenting during two Gordonstoun Summer Schools.
As well as leading the boarding house, Stuart is a mathematics teacher and a lover of all things rugby – coaching and refereeing at Gordonstoun.
He considers his role caring for 60 young men through the trials and triumphs of adolescence, instilling within them the ethos of vorwärts und aufwärts to be a fulfilling privilege.
Bevan is the House Parent of Duffus House. He has been working at Gordonstoun since September 2020 and in pastoral care since 2021.
Bevan comes from a background in environmental management in South Africa and Scotland, where he specialised in herpetology and conservation sciences.
Bevan has been involved in teaching sciences at various levels of education since 2014, with his primary focus being on teaching biology in the senior school alongside his pastoral role.
Katie started her career as a Teacher of English, having studied first at Queen’s University Belfast, followed by the European University of Cyprus and finally at Durham University. She has also been fortunate to work in Brazil, Canada, Italy and Zambia.
At Hopeman Katie is accompanied by her Newfoundland dog, Saint. Having worked in boarding for her entire life Saint is highly skilled. Katie and Saint are avid walkers, love a swim and have recently taken up kayaking in a tandem.
Being away from my own home and family, Katie has a great appreciation for the importance of creating a ‘home away from home’ at boarding school. When she visited Hopeman and Gordonstoun she was immediately struck by the purposeful confidence and courteousness of each student she met, and felt that this was absolutely the place for her
Brad is a dedicated educator, husband to Alex, and proud father to Greyson. Originally from Johannesburg, with 12 years of educational experience across all facets of school life, Brad has a real enthusiasm for teaching history to all school years. Beyond the classroom, a passion for sports has driven Brad to take on coaching a multitude of activities, particularly rugby, swimming, and water polo. Having also led multiple school expeditions and outdoor pursuits, he is a passionate believer in holistic education. As a Houseparent Brad works tirelessly to share his principles of respect and understanding with each student in Bruce House.
Outside the realm of education, Brad's hobbies include hiking, golf, and open-water swimming, having partaken in several 8-mile charity swim events and won two national open water 3km championships in South African Masters swimming. Brad and his family enjoy spending time in the outdoors and creating time to take long walks with their family Rhodesian Ridgeback, Brough.
Tori lives in Plewlands House full time with her husband who works as a Design Engineer for a playground company. She welcomes families into her own and learn about yours over cups of tea, homemade birthday cake and other treats.
Tori has lived and worked in boarding houses for well over a decade but knowing every girl is unique, she looks forward to hearing their story and helping them to unlock their potential.
Jamie Lumley has been working in private practice since qualifying as a psychotherapist five years ago and is currently an independent practitioner working with First Psychology. He is also a former parent at Gordonstoun.
Jamie has a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from The Institute of Counselling and an HE Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy from The University of the Highlands and Islands.
He has completed additional training in postnatal depression and understanding autism. He is a member of BACP, The institute of Counselling and an accredited member of NCPS.
Millie is a passionate advocate for wellbeing, with 17 years of experience in people-focused development roles. Previously she enjoyed an international career in HR leadership roles in Dubai and Hong Kong. Driven by a passion for meaningful human development, she left the corporate world to pursue coaching, transitioning into community-based mental health work, before joining Gordonstoun in 2024.
Millie supports students to reach their potential while building feelings of resilience, empowerment, and happiness through a strengths-based approach. Beyond Gordonstoun, she sits on the board of two local mental health social enterprises, staying at the forefront of developments in the field and championing the power of a lifestyle prescription, time in nature, peer support and community.
Christian took on Chaplaincy in addition to his teaching role four years ago. It has been a constant privilege for him to curate Gordonstoun’s daily Chapel programme, ensuring it is largely student-led as it builds community, confidence, and faith.
As an OG, Christian was drawn back to Gordonstoun when he qualified as a teacher, after exhilarating careers in finance and international security consultancy.
It is a pleasure for him to return to the place that shaped him and is of continuing value to this day.
Emma Murray serves as the Key Stage 3 lead at Gordonstoun, where she closely engages with Years 7, 8, and 9, alongside her responsibilities teaching mathematics. She pursued a MMath degree at the University of St Andrews, followed by a PGDE at the University of Edinburgh.
Before joining Gordonstoun, Emma taught mathematics in the Scottish Highlands and held the position of Principal Teacher of Pupil Support and Guidance. In 2020, she returned to her hometown of Elgin to begin a new chapter at Gordonstoun.
Emma collaborates closely with form teachers and tutors to provide day-to-day support to students. A crucial aspect of her role involves guiding students through significant transitional phases, including the transition from KS2 to KS3, from Year 8 to Year 9, and Year 9 preparation for GSCEs.
