Supporting Every Learner:
SEND Provision at Gordonstoun
Monday 10 May 2026
A Deep Understanding of Diverse Learners
At Gordonstoun, we value each individual and firmly believe that our differences enrich and strengthen the community as a whole. We know that these differences need to be understood, supported and celebrated. Our approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is rooted in a deep commitment to inclusion, personalisation and whole-child development, ensuring that every student can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Gordonstoun has extensive experience supporting students with a wide range of additional needs, particularly those who are neurodiverse. Our Learning Support Department works with learners with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia (DCD), ADHD/ADD, autism, speech and language differences, auditory and sensory processing differences, and hearing impairments.
This support sits within a whole-school culture that recognises diversity as a strength. Rather than a "one-size-fits-all" model, we focus on understanding each student as an individual – adapting teaching, pastoral care and daily school life to suit their unique strengths and challenges.
Personalised Learning at the Core
Every student on our Learning Support Register has a personalised Learner Profile. This dynamic, student‑centred document captures strengths, areas for development, effective teaching strategies and any exam access arrangements. Importantly, it gives students a voice in shaping how they learn best.
In the classroom, this translates into thoughtful, evidence-based strategies such as:
- Multisensory teaching approaches
- Clear visual supports and structured scaffolding
- Chunking of information to support processing and memory
- Opportunities for verbal rehearsal and reinforcement
- Flexible seating and movement-friendly learning environments
Students are also supported through the use of technology and tailored resources, including laptops, speech recognition software, audiobooks, manipulatives and carefully planned pre and post-lesson materials.
Specialist Support Across Every Stage
Learning support evolves as students move through the school:
- Years R–6: Weekly small group support sessions (often more) build strong foundational skills.
- Years 7–9: Students may replace a language option with two to ten small-group lessons per fortnight.
- Years 10–11: Additional support can replace a GCSE subject, with five to ten lessons per fortnight.
- Years 12–13: Weekly small-group sessions focus on independent learning and exam readiness.
Students can also access:
- One-to-one specialist tuition
- Saturday Learning Support sessions
- Weekly drop-in clinics
Our interventions are carefully selected and tailored, including structured literacy programmes, numeracy support, executive function coaching, vocabulary pre-learning and subject-specific strategies. Provision is continually refined through teacher feedback, student goal‑setting and professional reflection.
Wellbeing as the Foundation of Success
At Gordonstoun, academic support is inseparable from wellbeing. Our integrated pastoral system brings together House staff, tutors, Key Stage leaders, the Chaplain, counsellors, the Emotional Guidance Coach and the Healthcare Centre to ensure students feel supported at every level.
Recent developments have further strengthened this holistic approach:
- A whole-school coaching model that builds emotional literacy and strong relationships
- Student coaching programmes that encourage peer support and leadership
- Early intervention through one-to-one and small-group emotional guidance
- Enhanced wellbeing resources, including digital tools and a dedicated wellbeing hub
- Innovative initiatives such as lifestyle prescriptions and a focus on nutrition
Together, these ensure students are not only supported academically but are also equipped with the resilience and self-awareness needed for life beyond school.
Embedding Inclusive Teaching Across the School
Inclusion at Gordonstoun extends far beyond the Learning Support Department. Our Adaptive Teacher Toolkit equips all teachers with practical, research-informed strategies to respond to students’ needs in real time, ensuring that every classroom is an inclusive environment.
Our commitment to celebrating and supporting neurodiversity has been recognised through:
- The BSA Award for Diversity and Inclusion
- The Scottish Schools Food Award for Student Wellbeing
Student leadership also plays a key role, with Captains of Learning Support championing inclusion, raising awareness and amplifying student voice.
Expertise You Can Trust
Our Learning Support team includes highly qualified specialists, including Level 5 and Level 7 practitioners who are able to conduct formal assessments for exam access arrangements. Their combined expertise allows us to carefully match students with the right staff, ensuring both academic progress and strong, supportive relationships.
We offer:
- Small‑group teaching across all year groups
- One‑to‑one specialist support
- Targeted in‑class assistance where needed
- Co‑curricular learning support opportunities
- Close collaboration with parents and external professionals
Measuring Success Differently
At Gordonstoun, success is not defined by a single outcome. Instead, we focus on each student’s individual journey—helping them build confidence, independence and self‑advocacy.
Our students go on to a wide range of pathways, from Oxbridge and other competitive universities to specialist colleges, vocational training and diverse further education routes. What matters most is that each young person leaves with a strong sense of who they are, how they learn best, and how to shape their own future.
At its heart, SEND provision at Gordonstoun is about more than support - it is about empowerment. By recognising potential, adapting to need and nurturing the whole person, we enable every learner to flourish.
Curious about Gordonstoun? To find out more about our sporting community and the uniquely broad range of opportunities available to our students, join us on our next Virtual Taste of Gordonstoun Webinar.
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