About Gordonstoun
Our mission is to equip young people to become outstanding global citizens – whole in themselves and therefore better able to contribute to the greater whole of their community. This means giving equal importance to all life’s skills; physical, academic, emotional and spiritual. It means instilling a predisposition to walk towards life, in all its ups and downs, with belief in a positive outcome. To instil resilience in the face of adversity and adaptability in the face of opportunity.
Gordonstoun is a independent boarding and day co-educational Non-denominational school in Elgin, Scotland, serving students through to Grade 12. Founded in 1934, the school emphasizes ducation emphasizing character, resilience and leadership through challenge and adventure.
Core Values
Teaching Philosophy
Gordonstoun is a philosophy of education in action. Today, just as it was on the day we were founded by Kurt Hahn in 1934, the education we provide is truly extraordinary, giving every young person the confidence to achieve what they otherwise would not. Through our visionary curriculum, the outlook of Gordonstoun students is broadened, their ability to consider the needs of others developed, and they gain resilience – life skills which complement the school’s commitment to academic excellence. We go further than any school anywhere in the world to create regular opportunities for students to demonstrate, to themselves, just what they are capable of.
What Makes Gordonstoun Special
- Leading Scottish boarding school
- Beautiful Highlands campus fostering
- Leadership and personal growth
- Rigorous academics combined
- Social and moral education
Academics
Curriculum
Gordonstoun offers Local, Traditional, and AP curriculums, with specializations in STEM, Arts, Languages, and Sports.
Academic Environment
Languages of Instruction
Programs & Extracurriculars
Arts Programs
5 programsSports
7 programsClubs & Activities
3 programsCampus & Facilities
Gordonstoun sits on a 200-acre-acre campus with Outdoor centre, Science labs, Arts studios, Sports facilities, and Library.
Photo Gallery
Tuition & Financial Aid
Admissions
Requirements
- Application form
- Report cards
- Interview
- Reference letters
- Entrance exam
- Essay
- Portfolio
- Shadow day
- Standardized test
- Other
Community & Culture
Gordonstoun cultivates a warm, close-knit community centered on its founding philosophy of character education and the motto 'Plus est en vous' (there is more in you). Set on a 200-acre woodland campus between mountains and sea in northern Scotland, the school emphasizes pushing students beyond their comfort zones through outdoor learning, sail training, and service to others. The community balances academic rigor with holistic development—physical, emotional, and spiritual—creating an environment where students discover their capabilities through expeditions, performances, rescue services, and diverse co-curricular projects ranging from robotics to boat building.
Diversity & Inclusion
Gordonstoun emphasizes internationalism as a founding principle and core curriculum component through its unique International and Spiritual Citizenship classes. The school is home to over forty different nationalities, and this diverse mix of backgrounds, experiences, and values is described as promoting acceptance, understanding, and tolerance. The school welcomes students from around the world and maintains an English as an Additional Language (EAL) department to support non-native English speakers. International service projects operate in Kenya, Romania, and Thailand, and students can participate in international exchanges to Australia and Japan.
Parent Involvement
Parent involvement details are not prominently featured on the school's website. The site mentions regular academic reporting and Parent-Teacher meetings at key points throughout the year, as well as opportunities to visit the school and attend virtual webinars, but does not describe specific parent committees, volunteer opportunities, or engagement programs.
Accreditations & Recognition
Contact Gordonstoun
Address
Gordonstoun, Elgin, Elgin, Ontario, United Kingdom
Phone
01343 837837
admissions@gordonstoun.org.uk
Website
Visit School Website
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun serves students in grades Nursery-12.
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