Coastguards

The School runs an HM Coastguard station. The team's aims are to train in Search & Rescue as well as Cliff Rescue in order to support other local teams in emergency situations. We also man the Coastguard watch tower in times of foul weather.

Senior members of the team are equipped with pagers for fast response to call-outs in the dedicated emergency 4x4 vehicle.

Call outs, usually to help locate missing persons, take place about 3 to 4 times a term. In addition to the pagers, the Station Officer will sound a siren on the roof of Gordonstoun House to alert other senior members of the team.

Training covers such elements as rope work, navigation, first aid, search techniques and communications.

Members are trained in all coastguard VHF radio procedures and prepared for the relevant RYA qualification, which is taken in the third year in the team.