Gordonstoun was founded in 1933 by Dr Kurt Hahn, formerly Headmaster of Salem School in southern Germany. Dr Hahn fled Germany in 1933 under threat from the Nazis for standing firm in the face of aggression.
Perceiving decay in the society of the day, he aimed to foster in young people the qualities of skill, compassion, honesty, initiative, adventure and a sense of service to their fellow beings.
His philosophy was based on encouraging young people to develop both as individuals and within communities.
The early years
Hahn was fortunate to find an attractive, imposing estate in the temperate environment of Morayshire. With a handful of boys, the School began with two historic 17th century buildings, Gordonstoun House and Round Square, built by the famed eccentric, Sir Robert Gordon, the Wizard of Gordonstoun.
In 1947 Hahn founded Aberlour House as a Preparatory School.
The first few decades at Gordonstoun were far from straightforward. Challenges included:
- evacuation to Llandinam in Central Wales during the war
- a fire-ravaged Gordonstoun House on return from evacuation
- operating on split sites at Altyre in Forres and Gordonstoun in the 1950s
- the introduction of co-education in 1972
The initiative and resourcefulness of those responsible for the School's direction ensured that challenges – political, structural and organisational – were successfully overcome.
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Gordonstoun today
Gordonstoun develops continuously. Today's School has all the facilities necessary to give it a lead in independent education in the 21st century.
Facilities added over the past 20 years include:
- IT Centre and campus-wide network
- two new boarding houses
- music school
- refectory
- climbing wall
- floodlit Astroturf playing surface
- theatre
- sail training vessel
In 1999 Gordonstoun and Aberlour House came together under the umbrella of The Gordonstoun Schools.
In 2004 Aberlour House moved to a purpose-built Junior School on the Gordonstoun campus.
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Our affiliation to other organisations
Gordonstoun has been affiliated to standard bodies and associations in the past and is currently a member of:
- the Governing Bodies Association;
- the Boarding Schools' Association; and
- the Scottish Council of Independent Schools.
Our chief affiliation is to Round Square, a worldwide association of 60 schools, committed to the educational philosophy of Kurt Hahn.
Gordonstoun has always been a leading member of this group, which is named after the famous building on the School campus.
The School is also a registered charity.
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