Education must prepare young people for life
Tuesday 25 November 2025
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After a recent report by the The Commission on School Reform highlighted a growing behavioural problem in Scottish schools, Head of Gordonstoun, Simon Cane-Hardy, talks here about encouraging empathy, self-control, mutual respect and a sense of shared responsibility; to not only create well rounded individuals but create a positive learning culture. |
‘Plus Est En Vous’
More than 90 years since Gordonstoun was founded, our motto remains a guiding light at the heart of school life. It is our responsibility to challenge and support students to become their best selves. Education must prepare young people for life. Key to this approach is education outside of the classroom - an integral part of the wider package offered to students at Gordonstoun.
We are only now beginning to see the psychological impact of the Covid pandemic on our children, resulting from the amount of time spent indoors. A recent report by the Commission on School Reform highlighted a growing behavioural problem in Scottish schools. One of the key recommendations was for the Scottish Government to issue guidance which “recognises the need for sanctions in maintaining a good learning environment in schools”.
Significantly, the report concluded that parents were also impacted during Covid, with a lasting and negative impact on attitudes towards schooling. The question is, how we turn that around?
While schools must have a range of options to deal with persistent and serious behaviour, it is important that we look at how education is delivered in the round. At Gordonstoun, we aim not just to teach students but to prepare them for life beyond school, recognising that some of the most valuable education cannot be cultivated through classroom learning alone.
Since 1934, outdoor learning has been central to Gordonstoun’s educational philosophy, driven by the ethos and principles set out by our founder Kurt Hahn, offering adventure and putting students in challenging situations. This channels youthful energy in productive ways rather than in conflict. Students learn that it’s ok to fail and try again, along with key life skills such as resilience, cooperation and self-discipline. This outdoor approach has never been more relevant than today, as we deal with the increasing challenge of how much ‘screen access’ we should give our children.
In 2017, Gordonstoun restricted student use of mobile phones amid concerns that devices were having a detrimental impact on their wellbeing, behaviour and ability to fully focus on lessons. They were a constant distraction and since we have taken mobile phones out of the classroom, every area of school life has been transformed at Gordonstoun. We know from our own experience that supporting teachers on limiting the use of mobiles improves pupils’ behaviour and contributes towards improved academic performance. When our mobile phone policy was introduced eight years ago, the school became noisier, and children spoke to each other rather than scrolling through their phone. Academic focus is much better and since 2017, we’ve seen a marked improvement in our academic results, which is partially attributable to our mobile phone policy.
However, education must do more than prepare young people for examinations. It is important to offer them experiences which cultivate resilience, independence and a deeper understanding of themselves. Qualities not easily nurtured in the classroom alone.
Physical challenges have been central to a philosophy that sees character development as no less important than academic achievement. That ethos remains alive today, with more opportunities for students to engage in activities such as climbing, canoeing and mountain navigation.
We recently established a partnership with Rothiemurchus Lodge in the Cairngorms, both to extend our own outdoor programme and to offer these experiences to pupils from other schools and youth groups. Additionally, as part of student adventures at the Gordonstoun Adventure Campus, students will also be required to carry out basic maintenance in the lodges and participate in activities to improve the environment.
Gordonstoun has a challenging sail training programme, encouraging our young people to step outside their comfort zone, develop resilience and experience the wider world and new cultures. Navigating, reading the weather or maintaining the vessel all bring science, maths and geography to life. These are real-world lessons that link academic learning to practical experience, the kind of integrated education that young people remember for life.
Service to others is also weaved into the daily cycle of school life and every senior student takes part in one of the school’s eight community and rescue services.
At Gordonstoun, a ‘Hahnian’ education develops an underlying culture of respect. Our students and alumni exemplify the benefits of an educational path conducted not only within four walls, but sometimes far beyond them. Encouraging empathy, self-control, mutual respect and a sense of shared responsibility, not only creates well rounded individuals but creates a positive learning culture.
This cultural change is more sustainable in the long-term than traditionally punitive measures.
To find out more about the uniquely broad range of opportunities available to our students, our community, our setting and Hahnian ethos join us on our next Virtual Taste of Gordonstoun Webinar.
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