The History of Gordonstoun School
Gordonstoun was founded by Dr. Kurt Hahn in 1934 as a learning institution where young people could truly thrive. In 2019, HM Inspectors would put the school to a rigorous test, concluding that “the extensive range of opportunities for personal achievements in the senior school, as part of the Gordonstoun broader curriculum is outstanding.”
To understand the school, it helps to know the context behind its founding and how the school used and expanded its resources over the years to give its students every possible advantage. We’ll look at the hallowed halls of this preeminent boarding school and how it came to be so respected by people from all walks of life.
The Story of Dr. Hahn
Dr. Hahn was born to Jewish parents in Berlin in 1886 where he would go on to receive an excellent education in his formative years. While attending Heidelberg, Gottingen, and Oxford Universities, he would develop a fascination and deep appreciation for the ethos of the public school system in Britain.
This pioneer was also spiritually inspired by Plato’s Republic, a book that reimagines societies as utopias. After World War I, Hahn founded the Salem School in Southern Germany. His partner was none other than Prince Max of Baden, the former German Chancellor.
Hahn was vocal in his disgust of the Nazi party and the values its members espoused. During their rise, he would be a consistent opponent of their hateful rhetoric. It wasn’t long after Hitler came to power that he was arrested for his opinions. It was only after the intervention of numerous influential friends in Britain that he was released.
Hahn’s predicament sparked communication between the German Foreign Minister and the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. It was this correspondence that convinced Hahn he could no longer stay in Germany if he hoped to be safe. He left for Moray in Northern Scotland soon after, as Hahn already knew this area of the country. It was a part of the UK that he loved and understood nearly as well as his homeland.
Hahn didn’t arrive alone though. Two of his students from the Salem School, Mark Arnold-Foster and Jocelin Winthrop Young, were able to accompany him on his voyage. Winthrop Young would eventually go onto found the Round Square Conference, a network of schools across dozens of countries that offer world-class educational programmes to students from all backgrounds.
Seeking Help
Hahn was always driven by a love of learning and a deep passion to share the joys of discovery with others. This ambition is what fueled him to reach out to local families in the Moray area. He asked established property owners in the area if they would be willing to invest in his dream. The response was staggering.
It was the community’s support that allowed him to first lease and then eventually purchase the Gordonstoun estate. These grounds had already had a rich history behind them, dating back to the 13th Century. It was the perfect place to start a boarding school that would expose children to new perspectives, different ideas, and the many wonders of the world.
The Legend of Round Square
The Round Square Conference is a modern educational programme, but its roots stretch back to the 1600s. Gordonstoun estate was once owned by Sir Robert Gordon, an aristocrat who was known for his odd habits. Obsessed with alchemy, Sir Robert was well-known in the town for his ties to all things mystical.
It was he who decided to build Round Square, a building that was made to form a perfect circle. Legend tells us that when Sir Robert was just a student living in Italy, he sold his soul to the devil for information. Round Square was built to protect him from the devil when he was ready to collect on his investment.
After all, if there were no corners where the devil could hide behind, he must be safe. If you ask a superstitious man what happened after the built Round Square, they might tell you that Hahn foolishly left his fortress and the devil’s hounds killed him before he could reach his destination. But the (less thrilling) truth is that he died in his bed in 1704. His widow would go on to build Michael Kirk, a small church that still stands in his memory.
In the 1950s, Gordonstoun would renovate Round Square to be used as both a boarding house and for classroom instruction. The enclosure is also home to the staff room, school library, and the Kurt Hahn Archive. Michael Kirk remains a popular place for quiet reflection and plays a significant role in the spiritual life of its students.
All new students gather within its ancient stone walls to be with their year group for an unforgettable service. It’s an introduction to the school that is difficult to put into words. Round Square and Michel Kirk are more than just facilities to the people of Gordonstoun. The history of what came before is palpable and felt on a visceral level by all who enter.
World War II
The countryside in Scotland suffered during World War II, and the school was unfortunately plagued with violence and destruction in its early years. With German teachers imprisoned, the school had to be exiled to Wales for a short time. After this temporary measure, the staff came back to find that the school had been partially destroyed by fire. With the buildings in such a state of disrepair, the challenges ahead were undoubtedly overwhelming.
Yet this is precisely why Gordonstoun has managed to carve out the reputation that it has. The school has long promoted resiliency to all those who enter the sacred grounds. Hahn has always imparted to those around them that challenges are the birthplace of opportunity. Instead of being defeated by the mess, Hahn had created an atmosphere where individuals felt called to discover the true strength that lies within us all.
With so many supporters around him, the community was able to rebuild the school. The quality of the work was so impressive that it’s managed to stand in its current position for more than 80 years.
Brilliance at Gordonstoun was never measured by age or test scores, but by the spirit behind the individual. When pupils were willing to roll up their sleeves to get their beloved school back up and running, it was a true testament to the foundation that Hahn had built.
Multiple generations of British royalty would go on to attend Gordonstoun for its excellence in education. In 1956, Prince Philip would lend his name the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, an honor that is based on Kurt Hahn’s approach and continues to be bestowed to students who rise above the obstacles and prove themselves amidst the most trying of circumstances.
Gordonstoun Today
The school has been described by recent inspectors as one that promotes a caring, positive ethos, one that ensures respect and kindness for all. These compliments mean so much more when you know the background behind them. It’s no surprise that a man who escaped the Nazis wanted to foster children, so they could become better citizens. Education starts with questions — not judgements. It’s only when we accept our limitations that we can begin to push past them.
Today, the school promotes a GCSE and A level curriculum, just as you might expect to find at such a prestigious facility. Students are bolstered by a 7:1 pupil/teacher ratio and benefit from the oversight of a talented tutor who can gauge their progress at every step of the way.
But more than the lessons there are to be found in books, students here are encouraged to think past the pages to the people around them. If there’s an emergency on the water, older students who are members of the Coastguard might be summoned to help. If there’s a fire, the school runs its own Fire Service where students can respond to the urgent calls for help.
Inspectors found that students could grow and develop due to the comprehensive systems and protocols that have been established by the school. The range of opportunities is truly impressive and include everything from art and music to intense physical challenges on the surrounding terrain. The rugged and sometimes harsh climate makes for children who are more impervious to the bumps and bruises of life.
Gordonstoun also takes its cues from current events. After watching modern politicians fail to hear one another during Brexit, the school created a ‘Learning to Listen’ event that would help children develop their negotiation and listening skills. This is invaluable for everyone to master but particularly beneficial for children. It will be that much easier for them to integrate what they’ve learned as they grow older, something that can only benefit their generation and all those who come after.
The 200-acre campus of Gordonstoun isn’t just a boarding school. In many ways, it’s hosted some of the most important people and events of the most recent centuries. Today, students can still benefit from the pioneering spirit that built the very halls they enter.
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Originally published at https://www.varsity.co.uk.
