In 1934 Dr. Kurt Hahn, Headmaster of Salem School, under threat from the Nazis for standing firm in the face of aggression, left Germany and founded an international school in the North of Scotland. As he perceived decay in contemporary society, his objectives were to foster in young people qualities of skill, compassion, honesty, initiative, adventure and service to their fellow beings. Today the preparation of the 'whole person' is enhanced by a community comprising young people of differing backgounds, talents and interests. There are 430 pupils in the School - substantial enough for the provision of life-shaping experiences, yet sufficiently intimate to create the atmosphere of a thriving family. The Early Years Hahn was fortunate to find an imposing estate in the temperate environment of Morayshire. With a handful of boys the School began with two historic buildings, Gordonstoun House and Round Square. How did Round Square get its odd name? It was built in the 17th century by Sir Robert Gordon, known as "The Wizard of Gordonstoun", as an estate square to house horses, carriages and equipment for the estate. The Round Square certainly has character and is currently used as a boarding house - very few people can say they live in a house built by the Wizard of Gordonstoun. The early years were far from straightforward but the initiative and resourcefulness of those responsible for the School's direction ensured that challenges - political, structural and organisational - were successfully overcome, from evacuation to Llandinam in Central Wales during the war to a fire ravaged Gordonstoun House on return; from operating on split sites at Altyre and Gordonstoun in the fifties to the introduction of full co-education in 1972. The Modern School Development has proceeded unabated at Gordonstoun, with the provision of all the facilities necessary for a school which will continue to give a lead in independent education into the twenty-first century. In this full boarding environment the guiding principles for the design of an inclusive curriculum are that everyone is good at something; that choice exists but to do nothing cannot be an option; and that, in the challenging and stretching of every individual, the School will provide numerous opportunities for the novice, the cheerful participant and the expert.
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Past Reunions At Gordonstoun School
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Bar M, Putney, London
Took place on 12th Nov 2005 for members who left in the years 1980 - 1985 -
Bar M, Putney, London
Took place on 12th Nov 2005 for members who left in the years 1980 - 1985 -
Gordonstoun School
Took place on 26th May 2006 for members who left in the years 1994 - 1996
