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Original poster

Gordonstoun on tv...what were they thinking..

79 replies

wurzeldrink · 07/12/2015 11:18

Real car crash tv,I understand the Harrow series has led to a very large increase in applications,really cant see the same happening for Gordonstoun,we watch open mouthed at how bad the school is...
Anybody else watching it?

OP posts:
Noofly · 08/12/2015 18:18

PotteringAlong I know someone who went for the 6th form and adored it as well! That's actually what put the idea into my head for DS. It would be so completely different to anything he's experienced to date and he'd have a great time. They also do a summer school that he would love.

BlueSmarties76 · 08/12/2015 17:47

MorningtonCrescent
Ive still not seen the program, but generally speaking I agree with you in that I'd not expect boarding facilities to be amazing necessarily, but I imagine a lot of the other posters are comparing boarding facilities at Gordonstoun to those at other Public schools with a national reputation (which makes sense given the price tag or Gordenstoun) and I guess it doesn't measure up well to those?

Some schools nowadays do have ridiculously good facilities! Wellington has 2 swimming pools, many schools have golf courses, I can think of several schools with observatories, lots have proper sports stadiums, some have equestrian centres and 'branded' gyms on site...... And then there's Rodean's boarding refurb! www.tatler.com/news/articles/april-2015/the-swankiest-boarding-house-in-the-world

Warmworm · 08/12/2015 16:33

I think it looks great! My eldest daughter has been watching eagerly and would love to go there, but sadly there's no chance. I like how it's not overly focussed on academics.

Compared to a bog standard Welsh comp with peeling paint on the walls, filthy toilets, sticky floors, litter everywhere and rotting window frames it's pretty luxurious!

Original poster
wurzeldrink · 08/12/2015 16:15

Free short break available

We do not hold Open Days as we like to tailor-make your visit and spend as much time with you as you wish. You are welcome to visit Gordonstoun at any time of the year and on any day apart from Sunday; you just need to arrange a mutually convenient time with us. We are happy to:

arrange and co-ordinate your travel plans;
meet the cost of transfers to and from Aberdeen or Inverness; and
meet the cost of overnight bed and breakfast accommodation for one evening.
OP posts:
Original poster
wurzeldrink · 08/12/2015 16:08

Even Winchester has more luxurious boarding facilities,and thats saying something!!!
Interesting that the posters who think it looks fine/ok are on the whole not in the market to spend 30k a year,a few visits to a variety of senior boarding schools would put Gordonstoun in context.

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 08/12/2015 15:59

I know someone who went for the 6th form and adored it.

Noofly · 08/12/2015 15:44

I've only watched the first episode but it's pretty much exactly as I'd expect. DS(13) would love it. He's desperate to board and I told him a few years ago that if he were still that keen by the time he gets to S5, he could apply to Gordonstoun for his final year. We'll see. Grin

morningtoncrescent62 · 08/12/2015 15:13

Really, OP? I had the opposite reaction. I'm not exactly a fan of independent education, but I'm watching the series (tuned into the first episode by accident then got hooked) and I think it looks fantastic. The young people seem to be delightful - down-to-earth, sensible and nice. The teachers are shown to be caring and diligent. For instance, the girl who kept getting the detentions, yes, she was punished, but none of the teachers were ever shown to be unpleasant to her, or to do anything other than chat things through with her and help her understand any difficulties and find a way to focus. I thought the head of modern languages was lovely. The performance arts stuff didn't exactly blow me away, and it's no more than I'd expect from a very well-resourced boarding school, but the outdoor opportunities are absolutely amazing. Lucky, lucky kids to have those possibilities. I didn't think the boarding facilities looked bad, in fact they seemed fine to me. I don't have anything to compare them to though. Would most boarding schools have more luxurious facilities? If my DDs were school-aged and I had the cash or access to scholarships, I'd seriously be thinking now about setting reservations re independent schools aside maybe for the sixth form years.

I have to admit to being a bit Shock at the parents of the 18-year-old girl whose parents are forking out £60,000 to give their daughter two years in the Gordonstoun sixth form because she didn't do well enough in her A levels at her old school.

vjg13 · 08/12/2015 11:04

Of course, Onlyhereforthecamping. It just seems odd for an expensive selective boarding school.

vjg13 · 08/12/2015 11:03

The boarding for boys in round square looks dated and basic but much worse is incredibly cramped looking. Of course, there are other boarding houses not shown. The one for the girls shown doesn't look as bad.

BlueSmarties76 · 08/12/2015 10:33

I don't have Sky so can't watch it, can someone tell me what is so terrible about the facilities? Is the boarding just a bit old and dated, or more than that?

OnlyHereForTheCamping · 08/12/2015 10:22

There are other 3rd level education facilities in the world apart from Oxbridge.

vjg13 · 08/12/2015 10:10

I was surprised at the low number of Oxbridge candidates too and rewound to check I heard it correctly. The kids are put through a selection process, do they all get in?

Boarding facilities also look surprising crap and you can tell it will stink in round square! I would appoint a captain of window opening!

Kids seem great though and I love the fire service department.

lljkk · 07/12/2015 23:28

ooh.... I know someone whose son went there (academic scholarship, special link to DC local school) only a few yrs ago. And by few I mean 1-3 yrs ago he finished, 6th form equiv. He loved it. An English boy playing Scottish sport. His mom is... she's not whatever stereotype you have about people who send their kids there. I hadn't connected to fact it was PC's school until this moment.

Original poster
wurzeldrink · 07/12/2015 15:18

Thanks,Im aware of who founded it and why.Sadly many other schools now do the outside stuff,thanks of course to old boy-The Duke of Edinburgh,so whats left? poor/shocking facilities and poor academics,its perfectly possible to do exercise,learn compassion and help other people in far pleasanter surroundings....Be interesting to know how many uk students are actually paying full fees....

OP posts:
LyTinWheedle · 07/12/2015 15:07

I went to a very similar girls school, focused on the pupil as a whole not just academic excellence. We slept up mountains and sailed and generally titted about outside as well as doing school work, if my children wanted to go I would encourage them. My dad went to Gordonstoun and had the time of his life in the coastguard, he still goes on about how awesome it was Grin.

The school is based on the ideas of Kurt Hahn who thought teenagers were basically great people and should be encouraged to get outside and do lots of excercise and learn compassion and how to help other people. Not a bad start to life.

I've only watched one episode which I enjoyed. In response to the bedrooms, they often say that people who went to boarding school have no problems with prison!

Original poster
wurzeldrink · 07/12/2015 14:58

"The other things they do"mmm, I think youll find many other schools have comparable outdoor activities,(-fire brigade) and manage to have far far better facilities and academic results.
The most expensive boarding school in Scotland and four Oxbridge applicants,even for a totally non selective school that is not something to be proud of.
On the + side- the pipe band sounded good....

OP posts:
Screaminlikeabanshee · 07/12/2015 13:03

Thanks Myvisions

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2015 12:41

I can't understand why my mum watches it.

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 07/12/2015 12:41

It's on Sky1 *Screamin"

PotteringAlong · 07/12/2015 12:40

I though it looked like exactly the kind if school I would like my kids to attend (if I lived anywhere close to Moray!).

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 07/12/2015 12:35

to be fair, Round Square isn't a very big building, so there will always be a fair bit of cramming in. Windmill used to have dorms and separate studies, so converting that into bedsits means the rooms are also going to be on the small side.

Gordonstoun has never been known for being especially academic, so four Oxbridge applicants doesn't seem too bad (can't remember how big the 6th form is, but in contrast, DDs 150+ year group at a "leafy comp" had five Oxbridge applicants this year). You go there for the other things they do, not the academics IMO & E.

Original poster
wurzeldrink · 07/12/2015 12:23

I presume they did it to show how the "colditz with kilts " view is out of date,but I cant imagine who would be attracted to the school.
The boarding facilities look dreadful,the housemasters study is a cubbyhole,the boys are crammed into very basic rooms,the singing group was truly awful,the voiceover stated that a pupil was one of four oxbridge applicants,not places,not interviews ,but applicants,the pastoral care that weve seen is so so,I could go on.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2015 12:19

IIRC my Mum was on about very small bedrooms or something.

Muskey · 07/12/2015 12:17

It didn't seem that bad to me the bits I watched. The parents who send there dc there know what it's like so it shouldn't be a big surprised. I also liked how normal the kids were especially the young man who was part of the fire crew team.