United Kingdom · Moray
Gordonstoun is a co-educational day and boarding school in Moray, following the English GCSE and A-level system alongside vocational options. Families can consider full or weekly boarding, but should request the full-boarding fee schedule separately from the published weekly rates.
Gordonstoun is a co-educational day and boarding school on a 200-acre woodland campus in Moray, in the north-east of Scotland. Its address is Gordonstoun, Elgin, Moray IV30 5RF. Use the school’s contact page to arrange an admissions discussion.
The contact page gives distances of 31 miles from Inverness and 65 miles from Aberdeen airport. Check the complete journey from home, including flight connections and school transfers, before deciding whether the location works for regular visits.
Gordonstoun describes a seven-day boarding community, with Saturday school for Senior pupils and Sunday chapel. It also admits day pupils and offers weekly boarding, so full boarding is not the only attendance option.
Prep day pupils have a Day Pupils’ Coordinator. Senior day pupils are allocated a room in a boarding house, according to the FAQ. Ask which evening and weekend activities a day pupil is expected to attend.
The contact page names Peter Green as Principal, Simon Cane-Hardy as Head, and Cath Lyall as Head of Prep.
The main decisions are the child’s entry stage, attendance pattern and readiness for the school’s residential and activity programme. Weekly boarding means four or five nights; its published price should not be used as a full-boarding quotation.
Gordonstoun suits families seeking education in Scotland through the English qualification system, with outdoor activity and service as substantial parts of school life. Its named service areas include fire, coastguard, conservation and community work.
The school describes admission as non-academically selective. This does not guarantee every applicant a place; ask how it assesses readiness and support needs.
It is less suitable if the child needs Scottish Highers or a city-based day school. Compare those curriculum and location requirements separately rather than choosing solely on boarding reputation.
The school describes woodland grounds, coastal activities and an 80-foot school yacht. Prep activities include visits to Hopeman harbour and Moray beaches. Facilities include a climbing wall, dance studio, theatre and dinghy fleet.
Prep rooms accommodate up to six pupils. The FAQ describes Year 9 sharing arrangements involving three or four pupils and Year 10 rooms with one roommate. Years 12 and 13 are more likely to have individual rooms.
One girls’ house is described as offering individual rooms throughout. These are published arrangements, not a guarantee of a particular room for an applicant.
Unless there is a family connection, Senior house allocation aims to mix nationalities, abilities and personalities. Prep boarders share a dedicated house with a House Parent, Assistant House Parent, two resident assistants and a Matron.
The FAQ describes individual admissions visits rather than general open days. Arrange a discussion and tour on a term-time morning other than Sunday.
Gordonstoun follows the English examination system rather than Scottish Highers. A family considering a Scottish university should check the intended course’s requirements for A levels or vocational qualifications.
The FAQ gives a Prep age range of 4½–12, while the boarding page describes pupils aged 8–13. Confirm the child’s placement near the transition to Senior School. Year 8 includes Saturday morning lessons.
Year 9 provides a broad foundation, with assessment after arrival.
In Years 10 and 11, pupils typically take nine GCSEs, the English subject qualifications usually taken around age 16. The school lists mathematics, sciences, English language and literature, modern and classical languages, humanities, creative subjects, computing, design, physical education and business.
The named languages include French, Spanish, German, Latin and Greek. Creative options include art, photography, drama, dance and music. Confirm the actual combination available rather than assuming all listed subjects fit one timetable.
A one-year GCSE route is available for pupils aged 15 or 16 who are outside the English system and already have good English.
In Years 12 and 13, most pupils take three A levels. Some add a fourth, such as Further Mathematics, or an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), an independently researched project.
The school also lists BTEC vocational courses in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Medical Science, Performing Arts, Psychology and Sport. Ask about their levels and how a proposed combination meets university or other next-step requirements.
The school offers learning support and English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision. It also describes weekly tutor meetings and subject-help sessions. Ask what support the child would receive, how often and at what additional cost.
Service is part of the school programme, not simply an optional club. Activities include community and rescue-related work. Ask which service the child’s age group undertakes, what training is provided and how participation is supervised.
Begin with an admissions enquiry stating the intended entry year, day or boarding arrangement and any military-family circumstances. The existing research did not establish a general application deadline, entrance-exam date or Common Entrance requirement.
The school says final decisions are reviewed by the Principal’s office. Ask for the assessment and supporting documents required for the child’s stage before assuming that non-selective admission guarantees a place.
The main fees page requires an enquiry before displaying the full table. Request the 2026–27 full-boarding schedule, VAT treatment and included services in writing. The weekly figures below are not a substitute.
The weekly-boarding page publishes these rates including VAT. There are three terms a year. Pupils stay four or five nights a week, agreed with the boarding-house lead:
| School | Weekly boarding, per term, inc. VAT |
|---|---|
| Prep | £13,010 |
| Senior | £17,538 |
The prep-boarding page includes transport to and from areas such as Aberdeen and Inverness in its weekly-boarding fee. Confirm routes and whether the same inclusion applies to the child’s stage.
Prep also offers flexi-boarding, meaning occasional nights. The existing research did not establish its price, so request a separate quotation.
Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) helps eligible military families fund schooling. The school’s page quotes rates from 1 August 2026 of £9,184 per term for Junior and £11,586 for Senior.
For families receiving CEA, the school advertises parental costs starting below £4,500 a year in Prep and £6,500 in Senior. These depend on the allowance and the school’s offer; they are not the full fee or a civilian price.
The page lists these eligibility conditions:
For families not receiving CEA, the school advertises a 15% discount for full-time regular UK Armed Forces and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office families. It also describes means-tested and service-specific bursaries; ask whether reductions can be combined.
The advertised Military and FCDO visit day on 22 May 2026 has passed. Request the next visit opportunity rather than using that date as a current invitation.
The school says it is a registered Wraparound Childcare (WAC) provider for eligible families. Ask which care sessions qualify and what costs remain payable.
Choose Gordonstoun if the child wants its combination of English qualifications, service and outdoor activity, and the family can manage travel to Moray. Confirm whether full boarding, weekly boarding or day attendance best fits the child’s needs.
For a day-school alternative, compare Robert Gordon’s College for Scottish Highers or International School Aberdeen for the IB Diploma. Both involve a different location and daily routine.
Obtain the applicable full-boarding quotation rather than substituting weekly rates. The advertised parental contributions of less than £4,500 or £6,500 a year depend on military education allowances; they are not ordinary civilian fees.
The boarding index covers other residential options. The United Kingdom guide explains the wider education system, while the Edinburgh guide covers schools in that city.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
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Start with the child and a realistic weekly timetable. Then confirm who provides care, which nights are covered, and what happens when plans change.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.