Boarding & Pastoral Care

As one of the few remaining genuine boarding schools in Great Britain, we pride ourselves on the systems we have developed to look after students' wellbeing. After an extremely successful pastoral inspection, all systems are set firmly in place to ensure any student joining the School is well cared for, and monitored throughout his or her education.

These systems are built around our pastoral aims, which closely reflect the Gordonstoun ethos and our aim of developing the whole person.

They are led by an exceptional pastoral team, who devote boundless time, energy and expertise to developing, encouraging, advising and leading students.

Spiritual development comes under the general heading of pastoral care but is also a separate area of student life at Gordonstoun.

• Pastoral Aims
• Pastoral Team
• Boarding Houses
• Student Development Scheme
• Founder's Award

Our pastoral aims

We adhere strictly to our pastoral aims, which are:

• to provide, in our boarding houses, a family environment in which students feel comfortable, safe and secure in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect;
• to provide equal opportunities for all students, regardless of ability, religion, culture, gender, ethnic origin or class;
• to encourage tolerance, understanding and positive interaction between students, and to have regard for each other's privacy and possessions;
• to provide the conditions for students to develop their intellectual talents through a managed environment;
• to provide activities and projects, appropriate to age and maturity, that will encourage each student to develop spiritually, culturally, morally and socially; and
• to develop students' responsibility – for themselves, for others and for their environment – and, through this, to develop their leadership qualities.

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Our pastoral team

The team comprises:

• Housemistresses and Housemasters
• Assistant Housemistresses and Housemasters
• Matrons
• Tutors

All are dedicated to House life and to supporting and nurturing students throughout their time at Gordonston.

Within each House:

• The Housemistress or Housemaster has overall responsibility, with support from an Assistant. Housemistresses and Housemasters work closely together and with senior managers to foster Gordonstoun's pastoral aims.
• Matrons help students to follow a daily routine and are available to help at all times.
• Students are allocated tutors, who are present each evening. Their role is to follow the progress of their tutees' quest to fully experience the opportunities that student life at Gordonstoun offers.

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Boarding

Gordonstoun's Houses are our students' homes from home.

Our nine Houses are varied in design and located around the campus, but share the Gordonstoun ethos.

• Houses
• House facilities
• House life

Houses

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House facilities

• Comfortable bedrooms/study rooms
• TV areas
• Common rooms for students from other Houses to visit
• Well-stocked tea rooms
• Wireless internet access
• Network PCs and Laptops for student use

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House life

Houses are central to student life and both students and staff are extremely loyal to their House.

Popular features of House life include:

• Inter-house competitions
• Expeditions
• In-house evenings

Students have access to staff who both keep them on track and provide advice and encouragement. House staff include:

• Housemistresses or Housemasters, who have overall responsibility within each House;
• Assistant Housemistresss or Housemasters;
• Matrons, who help students follow their daily routine; and
• Tutors, who help to ensure students fully experience the opportunities that student life at Gordonstoun offers.

All House staff are available to talk to parents or guardians at any time.

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Student Develpment Scheme

This is a framework that guides each student through their education and activities at Gordonstoun. The scheme ensures that all our students:

• receive a well-rounded education;
• know what is expected of them, and why; and
• have clear goals to aim for during their time with us.

Although final reports and certificates are presented at the end of the scheme, these are much less important than the process itself.

All students receive a final report, the Record of Development and Citizenship.

Those who complete all parts of the scheme successfully also receive a certificate, the Founder's Award.

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Founder's Award

This is the Gordonstoun Certificate which recognises the completion of Gordonstoun's unique brand of education.

The certificate is awarded at two levels – at the end of Year 11 and at the end of Sixth Year.

Further details of the Student Development Scheme and Founder's Award.

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Mrs Diana Monteith
Director of Pastoral Care