Gordonstoun experiences for prep age

[MadAdopter]

I am considering relocating to Scotland from Southwest England (see other Aberdeen thread). Another option is to move to Moray and send my dd age 6 to Gordonstoun. Would really value experiences and insights (good or bad) from families who have children there particularly from prep age.

The school really appeals to me for the broader curriculum and not being an academic hothouse like other private schools in Aberdeen for example.

Thanks!

Had no idea Gordonstoun started that young.

DH knows someone whose children boarded at Ardvreck and then moved to Gordonstoun for senior age. They loved Ardvreck. Similar ethos maybe?

Albyn School (Aberdeen) isn't an academic hot house.
The International School in Cults is also good for a well rounded education.
If you're planning for your dc to continue beyond primary at Gordonstoun, it can be very academic. Family member was Head Boy and he's now an internationally aclaimed lawyer!

That is encouraging to hear, other threads have said the academics at Gordonstoun are not great but I would hope it depends on the child and they are supported if they are academic.

I wouldn't dismiss the option of a local village school for primary, if relocating to the Highlands or Aberdeenshire. Lots of advantages of being able to walk to school and for both you and DC to make friends and integrate into a new community. Most rural schools have small (often composite) classes. Private schools tend to have a large catchment that can make meeting up with friends outwith school more difficult.

My 3 went through Gordonstoun Prep all the way to Sixth Form & loved it. All 3 had scholarships of various types and greatly benefited from the school ethos that every child is good at something. It’s a schools job to find that and nurture it.

One was very academic and achieved top results at GCSE and A Level (now about to study Medicine) and appreciated the broad spectrum of opportunities as opposed to academic hothousing. it is very possible to do well if the child wants to. All took part in sport, music and drama productions and I feel made the most of the opportunities open to them.

All love the outdoors as a result of the broad curriculum and had amazing opportunities to visit foreign countries and experience different cultures. They also have an amazing network of friends globally as about 1/3rd of students come from overseas which gives diversity and richness to the school. It’s the sort of school I wish I’d gone to as a young person.

I wouldn't say any of the private schools in Aberdeen are academic hothouses. With a DD I would absolutely send her to St Margaret's. All through, extremely supportive, plenty of academic opportunities but also a strong support for learning option, amazing music department, incredible head of PE who tries her very best to ensure a sports offering for every different ability and interest - not easy in such a small school.

The only thing is that some class sizes are very small in the junior school right now so depends how you feel about that. (They tend to grow as girls go up through the juniors and more children enter private education.)

One of my extended family went to Gordonstoun and it's true he has friends all over the world but he also grew up with a very blinkered view of reality.

A few people have suggested a small rural state school. I wouldn't. They're amazing until they're not (change of Head, difficult family enters, etc), and then they can be godawful.

Thanks very helpful, St Margaret's is my second choice at the moment. There seems to be a big emphasis on exam results at Robert Gordon's and it is huge which puts me off.

A friends daughter and Grandchildren went to Albyns and all seem happy

I have no experience of private school so cant comment but another one you might not be aware of is Lathallan

I have a dd at Gordonstoun, who's been there for the last 5 years. The school has been life-changing and we can't imagine her leaving. As parents, we have a lovely community of friends and are very involved even though she boards. The opportunities she has had have been breath-taking. She's sailed to the Arctic, taken part in the Tall Ships Race, is a voluntary firefighter and did an exchange to Canada... and much much more. Feel free to PM me.