Gordonstoun

Gordonstoun

Coordinates: 57°42′15″N 3°22′18″W / 57.704167°N 3.371667°W / 57.704167; -3.371667

Gordonstoun School is a co-educational independent school for boarding and day pupils in Moray, Scotland. Named after the 150-acre (61 ha) estate originally owned by Sir Robert Gordon in the 17th century, the school now uses this estate as its campus. It is located near Duffus to the north-west of Elgin. It is sometimes referred to as a "public school" in the English usage of the term as defined by the Public Schools Act 1868 as the school follows certain practices such as usage of the Common Entrance Exam for the 13+ entry age but the term is traditionally used in Scotland to mean state schools.

Founded in 1934 by German educator Kurt Hahn, Gordonstoun has an enrolment of around 500 full boarders as well as about 100 day pupils between the ages of 8 and 18. With the number of teaching staff exceeding 100 there is a low student-teacher ratio compared to the average in the United Kingdom. There are nine boarding houses, including three 17th century buildings that were part of the original estate; the other houses have been built or modified since the school was established.

Gordonstoun has many notable alumni. Three previous generations of British royalty were educated at Gordonstoun since its establishment including the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales. Due to Dr. Hahn's influence the school has a strong connection with Germany and forms part of the Round Square Conference of Schools, a group of over 60 schools across the globe also founded by Hahn. Around 30% of students attending Gordonstoun come from abroad.