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A Word from the Principal

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There has been a frisson of excitement at Gordonstoun this autumn. It is surely not every term that a school gets to see itself on television? The six episodes are the culmination of 18 months of intensive work by ITN Productions and several thousand hours of footage landed on the cutting room floor. Of course I was intensely aware that it was a risk bringing a film crew of five into our midst, seven days a week, for a whole academic year. But our lengthy discussions with ITN Productions made us confident that they wanted to make the sort of film that we would feel comfortable with and that above all, the interests of our students would be protected.

It is frustrating that a school which is doing something very distinctive in British education is so misunderstood by the public at large. Established myths are hard to shake off. At the heart of my decision to allow the cameras in was a belief that our students and our staff should have an opportunity to show, through its daily activities, that Gordonstoun has a powerful educational ethos which is as relevant today as when the school was founded over 80 years ago. It was this difference between perception and reality that attracted ITN Productions (the programme makers) and Sky (the broadcasters) and which has made the process run so smoothly.

Of course I must thank in particular the staff and students of Windmill Lodge and Round Square who had the film crew in their lives for the year; and indeed, all the staff helped in various ways by allowing the film crew into their classrooms or into their working environments (I know for example that the grounds team delayed putting up the rugby posts so that it could be filmed) or by pointing the crew in the direction of a potential storyline. After the initial excitement of a camera crew’s arrival, it only took a few weeks for the crews and

filming to be barely noticed as we went about our daily lives.

Although the filming centred on Windmill Lodge and Round Square - ITN Productions insisted on this to make it manageable for their film crews - as I have watched the films I have been so pleased to see the cross section of students and staff who appear on screen, from the Junior school up. Now that the series has been aired I am very proud of how level the students have been about their new found ‘fame’ and quietly supportive of each other. It is exactly these qualities that we aim to foster here and I hope they see the filming as just another of the experiences they gained during their time at Gordonstoun. Much more information about the filming is included later in this magazine.

When it comes to our development plans we have had delays in obtaining the building warrant to turn Ogstoun back into a boarding house, but hope to start work early in 2016. The plan then is to move Cumming House into Ogstoun so that Cumming can itself be redeveloped. I am reluctant to commit to any dates because the process has had to be delayed several times - and for good reason. It is frustrating that these development plans have been pushed back but they are still very much at the heart of our plans for the future. Parents, students and everyone in the Gordonstoun community will be informed of developments as soon as plans are confirmed.

Turning to another initiative in 2016, I am delighted that we are undertaking a piece of research over the next few months under the direction of Dr Simon Beames of the University of Edinburgh. We have always known intuitively that our broad curriculum and emphasis on learning life skills, alongside academic excellence, is of huge benefit to students, but for the first time we are trying to evaluate this through academic research. This will bring more precision to our analysis of the benefits of Gordonstoun’s curriculum. Gordonstoun education works and this research will give guidance on how we develop our broader curriculum in the future.

We will not see the results until early summer 2016 but I look forward to sharing them with you. Thank you very much if you have helped us by filling in the questionnaire or offering to take part in a focus group.

Finally if you are active on social media I would urge you to follow the School’s Facebook (Gordonstoun School), Twitter (@gordonstoun) and Instagram (@gordonstounschool) accounts, which will give you invaluable glimpses of things going on at the school that your son or daughter may possibly fail to tell you. @stounscholars highlights academic events, and if you are interested in sport, @gstounsport tweets our news and results from the sports field.

Welcome to new staffLydia Bryant, teacher of Business studies

After studying for a BA and PGCE at Durham University I went to work as a teaching Assistant Housemistress at Harrogate Ladies College, in North Yorkshire, for 3 years. I taught Business Studies and Geography, as well as getting involved in sport, trips and the running of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Since joining the school I have been

overwhelmed by the friendly atmosphere of the school and how many opportunities there are for all students attending Gordonstoun. I am thoroughly enjoying working with the pupils and find the international mix of students creates fascinating debate in the classroom.

Paul Chatwin, teacher of Mathematics

My early career focused on research but my real passion was teaching and I later made the decision to commit wholeheartedly to a career in secondary education. I have been fortunate to have a variety of teaching experiences both at home and abroad. My family and I have recently returned from four years in Qatar where we were part of an international community and I have been struck by the cultural diversity that exists within the student population at Gordonstoun. As well as teaching Maths, I’ve become involved in the Fire and Community Services, assist with the activities programme and spend Wednesday evenings supporting the boys in Duffus House. Gordonstoun is an incredibly busy but rewarding place to work and my first couple of months have exceeded all expectations. In the future, who knows; perhaps I will have the chance to take to the high seas once again, this time on board Ocean Spirit.

glynn Jenkins, director of Music

Before coming to Gordonstoun I led the Music Department at St Leonards School in St Andrews. While in Fife I was also a Company Commander in the Army Cadet Force, with all army cadets in East Fife coming under my command; this maintained a link with the armed forces which has continued throughout my teaching career. My new post involves academic teaching, rehearsing and performing music, and coordinating the activities of a large department of instrumental and vocal teachers. My intention is to make performance at all levels a real priority during my time at the school, encouraging as many musicians as possible to share their music with others. In my spare time, I write murder mysteries and have just completed my fifth novel, Mediaeval Murder, in its first draft.

Katie Cook, teacher of Chemistry

I grew up in Devon and spent many hours surfing, sailing and playing various sports, so when my husband Stephen (Head of Geography) proposed the move back to Scotland, I was happy to relocate to another incredible part of the world and let my children experience such an idyllic place. Before coming to Gordonstoun I taught at Redland

High School for Girls in Bristol for 12 years where I was Head of Chemistry. I love Chemistry as not only does it allow us to understand all that is around us, but it can also be good fun with great practical experiments and I hope to be able to perform some exciting demonstrations using Liquid Nitrogen and Dry Ice. In my first term at Gordonstoun I have found the students to be delightful and both keen to engage with Chemistry and impassioned with all that the school has to offer. I have also been lucky to attend some fantastic lectures and witness some extremely keen cross-country runners. I especially enjoy spending time at Windmill Lodge with my tutees.

Chrystelle Filliol, Head of Languages

While studying for my Licence (equivalent to a BA), I came to the UK as a French assistant, then did my PGCE at Leicester University. After four years of teaching in a comprehensive school, I decided to learn a new language - Spanish - which I took up to A-Level and which gave me great insight into what students experience when learning a language. Before coming to Gordonstoun, I worked in a small, independent school in Northamptonshire, where I became Head of Languages seven years ago. It is a real privilege to work here at Gordonstoun and I love the atmosphere, where staff and students alike create a real sense of community. I find the breadth of experiences here fascinating and would like to get involved in different aspects of the Gordonstoun curriculum. Coming from an area in France with dormant volcanoes, open spaces and crater lakes, I certainly look forward to discovering more outdoor pursuits in this beautiful country, but I am also determined to swim with dolphins at some point!

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Aidan duffy, AHM gordonstoun House

I have always had an avid interest in sports - particularly rugby - and outdoor pursuits and have a degree in PE from Edinburgh University. My association with Gordonstoun first started as part of the residential element for my Gold DofE award and, six Summer Schools later, I was offered the fantastic opportunity

to work here. So far the term has been action-packed with Sports fixtures and expeds, but the warmth of the students and staff and the magnificent grounds never cease to amaze me.

Welcome to new staff

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Christina tatlow, teacher of Media studies and English

Prior to Gordonstoun I worked in the media industry for 12 years, mainly as a journalist, radio presenter and videographer and began teaching two years ago in FE and HE environments. I am originally from the Moray area but was working outside London before taking this job which has allowed me to move back into my local area. As well as teaching, I am a Tutor in Altyre House, part of the Tech Service and I also help with the Junior School film club and badminton activities. My first impressions of the school are that it is busy, vast and wide ranging. While I’m here I hope to get involved in summer activities and trips such as the Ethiopia or Thailand projects, voyages on Ocean Spirit and perhaps go on exped at some point to help me experience the wider curriculum as I am currently always in a classroom.

Michelle nardone, teacher of Business studies

I am delighted to be working in the Business Studies department. Previously I have worked in Higher Education and in Further Education teaching law and business. I have a varied background and with it I bring insights from the commercial world into the classroom. I have worked for ITV as a producer/director and I have also worked for Diageo.

I trained as a barrister, winning the ‘Diplock Scholarship’ awarded by The Honourable Society of The Middle Temple (one of the four Inns of Court) and then with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as a commercial mediator. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others and love the world of education. Whilst I am here I hope to inspire and motivate the students in their academic endeavours to be the best that they can be.

Beate Bratfisch, Musician in residence

I am from Germany and have been studying English and Music at the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg and the Mozarteum Salzburg in order to become a teacher. I am particularly interested in the school’s ethos and curriculum. During my year here I will be helping out in the music department to the best of my

abilities and hope to be part of upcoming events such as the musical production and concerts.

nicola Buchan, sports Coach

I have recently graduated from the University of Abertay Dundee with a BSc in Physical Activity and Health. While I am at Gordonstoun I hope to gain a flavour of its unique curriculum as well as make a positive impact on the learning of students. I have been welcomed by students and staff alike and am impressed by the excellent work ethic and

effort that students put into their academic studies as well as their commitment to the broader curriculum.

James Fletcher, AHM round square

I took over as AHM of Round Square in September after having completed my degree in Scandinavian Studies and Philosophy at Edinburgh University and am really enjoying getting to know all the interesting characters in the House. I have also got involved in football and cross country activities, the Tech Service and the renewal process of the school’s

FairAchiever Award, as well as umpiring my first hockey game. I am really enjoying my new life at Gordonstoun and am looking forward to what the next few terms bring.

Becky saxby, sports Coach

I come from North Lincolnshire and have a First Class degree in Sports Coaching and Performance as well as a PGDE in Physical Education from Edinburgh University. I completed my probationary year at North Berwick High School and have now been employed as a Sports Coach at Gordonstoun. During my time here, I want to gain as many experiences as possible. So far, I have enjoyed being part of such a welcoming, friendly community and look forward to what the future holds.

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Behind the scenes

Physics Laboratory technician, Ian smithI arrived at Gordonstoun in October 2010 after working for two years in the National Health Service as an Assistant School Nurse serving Primary and Secondary schools in the local area. Delivering Health Education to school pupils from six to sixteen was in itself an education and far removed from my previous employment in Aquaculture, Aeronautical Engineering, and thirty years spent in the Royal Air Force.

As they say “all good things must come to an end” and as a result of my post in the NHS being ‘downsized’ (which was unfortunate as I am only five foot six and three quarters and couldn’t afford to be made any smaller) I was forced to look elsewhere to while away the hours. It was a stroke of good fortune that at the time of my departure from the NHS, Gordonstoun was looking to fill the post of Physics Technician. This sounded like an ideal opportunity for another challenge, and one which was to prove far more interesting than I could have anticipated.

On a morning filled with glorious sunshine I drove to Reception admiring the estate dressed in its cloak of autumn colours. G-House, although equally impressive, was eclipsed by the warm reception afforded to me by Mrs Hurlstone (HR Manager) and Miss Windsor (Head of Physics). This was the beginning of what has been one of the most interesting and enjoyable chapters in my life to date. Part of my interview involved a brief tour of the school and I was impressed by the quiet and friendly atmosphere, a contrast to the hurly burly I had previously experienced in schools. Prior to my job interview I had no idea what lay behind the school gates, even though I lived only a few miles away.

Since joining the Physics Department I can honestly say that no two days have been the same. Yes, there is a routine to be followed, preparing equipment, experiments, and demonstrations, keeping on top of departmental resources, and generally helping the department members to make it through the day, usually with the aid of tea and coffee. However, the unusual requests from students and staff such as mending broken headphones and leaking wellington boots, helping with design projects, for example wiring an array of LED lights into a sculptural piece of furniture or even a skateboard these are the diverse tasks which certainly add spice and variety to the daily routine.

I thought my job here could not become any more interesting until I was asked last year to become a Tutor in Round Square. If I reckoned at this point that I had experienced all the school had to offer, I was in for a considerable surprise. Tutoring in Round Square has been an experience beyond my expectations and the young men I have the privilege to tutor are a constant revelation and source of inspiration to me.

So, what next? Who knows what Gordonstoun will have in store for me in the years to come? I will have to wait and see!

dr Eve Poole, Chairman of the Board of governorsWhy did you want the position of Chairman?My job teaching leadership and ethics at Ashridge Business School has convinced me that we need to introduce character education much earlier on in life. Business School is too late! So I am here to learn from you, because Gordonstoun has trail-blazed this type of education ever since your foundation. Also I am bossy and like running things, as the

school will already have discovered...

What is the role as you see it?Formally my role is about ensuring that the Board collectively governs the school well. We do this by making sure we comply with the relevant legal and regulatory regimes, and by keeping the financial accounts healthy and accurate. We also take seriously our responsibility to safeguard the past - our inheritance as an educational charity founded by Kurt Hahn - by translating his vision into current and future strategy. As well as this ‘internal’ role, I very much see my job as helping to raise the profile and network of Gordonstoun externally, working with both staff and governors to ensure we fulfil our responsibilities as a leader in the sector.

What do you want to achieve?Gordonstoun deserves a much higher profile and much stronger support, because this style of education is crucial and hard to deliver well. So I want to capitalise on the excellent headwind produced by the Sky documentary, and the new advertising campaign, by bringing up the rear with some hard data. Edinburgh University is helping us to produce this, in order to quantify and explain the value of our out-of-classroom offer. People often say that schools like ours suffer because we don’t have an endowment. But we do have an endowment. Every single OG, former staff member and former parent is part of our wider community and, with current students, staff, and parents, are our endowment for the future. So I am keen we involve the wider Gordonstoun family in everything that we do, and this includes apologising for anything in our past that we feel shames us, as well as rejoicing in what a Gordonstoun education always has and continues to achieve.

What are your impressions of gordonstoun so far?I just think you’re all brilliant! So many of you demonstrate Plus est en Vous in your lives everyday, and in what you choose to do - you are a very inspirational lot. I wish I could bottle it. Hang on, great idea...

sCHoLArsHIP EnrICHMEnt ProgrAMMEIn the first half term of the academic year 2015-16, scholars in the school have had the opportunity to take part in numerous events, from visiting the archaeological dig in the caves below Gordonstoun and hearing from Professor Armit about the Stone and Bronze Age finds there, to trips to the Techfest talks and displays in Aberdeen; or from an Art History discussion group organised by the Art Department to watch live theatre broadcasts, such as the RSC’s Othello with Hugh Quarshie at Eden Court. I was delighted to participate in some of the events on offer and have chosen three particular ones to talk more about.

In September, a group of Year 12 students and I went to Eden Court to watch a Rapture Theatre production of All My Sons by Arthur Miller. The play tells the story of the struggles of an American family after the Second World War. Like many of Miller’s plays, it deals with themes of loss, guilt and suicide and how they threaten family life. We all enjoyed the trip and finding out more about one of Miller’s less well-known plays was a great opportunity for us.

Chris Law, Year 13

Later in the first half of term, I attended a lecture at Aberdeen University on Weather Forecasting in the 21st Century. The lecturer, Keith Thomson, Manager of the UK branch of Aerospace and Marine International, discussed the development of weather forecasting from the 19th Century onwards. He especially focused on the methods of recording ocean temperature and sea conditions, two pieces of information which are vital for the oil industry in Aberdeen. However, he also suggested that it is nearly impossible to generate an accurate forecast on low cloud and rainfall, meaning it is likely that our weather will remain unpredictable. Gordonstoun expeds beware!

For Year 13 students thinking about applying to Oxford, the school hosted an admission workshop on 16 September. In the workshop Vicki Sargeant from Oxford told us that OU is a place for people from all walks of life. We were also given the opportunity to answer a few sample interview questions, which for many of us was a difficult challenge. Most recently, our Scholarship Co-ordinator, Mrs Monteith, has started to run a discussion group on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students applying to Oxford or Cambridge, in order to prepare us for the rigorous interview process in December.

In summary, I have enjoyed many of the activities provided to scholars at school this term. The external events I have attended have definitely broadened my knowledge in various disciplines and I am now also more confident about my application to Oxford as a result of the training I have received.

As part of the whole school study skills provision, this term Year 11 have been attending sessions with Miss McCrum, Mrs McCallum and Mr Fraser. These workshops have been focused on time management, use of prep time and ideas for extension. Students have been encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas by honestly reviewing their practices in order to refine their approaches to independent study. The process has included a prep review sheet, ‘what if?’ scenarios and gender specific top tips for studying. The ideas and themes raised in the sessions have hopefully engaged the students in self-reflection and provided a platform for peer support and discussion regarding their study habits. Here are some reflections on the sessions from the students themselves:

natasha Macrae To begin with we filled in a multiple choice sheet, and we were encouraged to answer as honestly as we could about what our study habits were like. This in itself was useful as I realised that I did have some counter-productive habits that I hadn’t even noticed, and so I was aware of it next time I sat down to do prep and made a conscious effort not to get distracted… After the session, I made relevant changes to my routine, and have started list-making to keep myself organised; often we have a lot on our plate at Gordonstoun so sessions like this are really helpful to keep the chunks bite-sized.

studY sKILLs WorKsHoPsAngus McVean The study skills workshops were a useful way of planning and managing my revision, and how to balance work and play. The sessions were particularly useful for when we are stuck with what to do and how to begin a revision session, and I now no longer spend as long choosing music for my studying, and spend more time getting my books out and ready for each topic of work. The session has been a successful process of making us think about how we work and how we are going to achieve our academic targets, by balancing our time, without getting too stressed.

Lizzie Bailey During my recent study skills sessionI was able to write down and discuss the work ethic and atmosphere in the boarding house, going through several different scenarios involving work and revision, chatting with everyone in my group about stress levels near exams and also how teaching staff were helping by providing clinics or by just being supportive around the boarding house. What I found particularly interesting about the discussions was everyone else’s attitudes towards their work and revision. It was extremely helpful hearing how they revise and I now use their ideas to aid me in my own preparation for exams. After having had the study skills session I now try to layout and plan what I will do for a certain amount of time, so I therefore don’t over work and overwhelm myself with too much to be doing all at once.

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Pictish digDuring the first half of the term Gordonstoun welcomed a team of archaeologists from Bradford University, led by Professor Ian Armit (pictured left) to Sculptor’s Cave. Excavations in the 1920s and 1970s revealed human bones and ritual offerings from the Late Bronze Age (around 1200-800 BC) and the Roman Iron Age (around AD 100-400), suggesting that the cave was an important religious and funerary site for more than a thousand years. Students on the Scholarship Enrichment programme were

invited to visit the site of the dig and Profesor Armit visited the school to give a talk to students and staff on what the archaeologists have discovered during their work in the cave and what they hoped to achieve while they were there.

A Piper in LondonSenior piper, Archie Houldsworth, was invited down to the headquarters of ITN Productions in London to play for the ITN staff as the Gordonstoun documentary was launched at the company’s offices. Taking up his station in the full height foyer, Archie, who appears on the roof of G-House in every episode of Gordonstoun: A Different Class, soon brought the offices to a standstill as the staff came out onto the balconies to listen to the soaring sound of the bagpipes.

uK Maths ChallengeYear 12 and 13 students sat the UK Maths Challenge in November with a total of 24 medals being awarded - 15 bronze, 4 silver and 5 gold. Of the five gold winners, two - Craig Ferguson (left) and Andy Zhang (centre right) - scored 111 points out of 125 and were invited to continue to Round 1 of the British Mathematical Olympiad.

nEWsIn Brief

own Clothes dayA non-uniform day was held in support of OG Ruth McPherson (Windmill ‘05) who returned to the school to talk to the students about living with the condition Alopecia Totalis which she has had since shortly after she left school. A total of £390 was raised and donated to Autoimmune Alopecia Research UK.

Moray Professional Learning EventThe School’s teaching and Learning Co-ordinator, Mrs Caroline McCallum, organised a joint teaching and learning event this term in conjunction with the Moray Council. Two hundred and twenty teachers and learning professionals from across the region attended the all-day event at which Guy Claxton, a cognitive scientist and well-known

British educationalist, gave a keynote speech about ‘Learning Power’. In addition there were workshops covering educational research, sharing knowledge between local schools, secondary Maths, learning opportunities in outdoor education and a more in-depth discussion around learning power.

gordonstoun school of taekwon-doThe Gordonstoun School of Taekwon-Do, led by Mrs Julie McDonald, 4th Dan (and also the School’s Finance Manager), has just held a successful grading with Master Cattanach, Speyside School of Taekwon-Do’s senior instructor. For the first time since it was established three years ago, senior students have joined the Taekwon-Do school and three of them (pictured here with Master Cattanach and Julie) were awarded their yellow belts. Six

Junior School pupils also graded, some for the first time, and all performed extremely well. Gordonstoun also recently hosted the UKTA North of Scotland Area seminar, conducted by Grandmaster Williamson from Elgin. It was well attended by approximately 65 students and instructors from across the Moray area.

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round squArE ConFErEnCE Have you ever taken a moment to stop and really look at the world around us?

Notice how much we, as a race, have achieved and created over the years, how we can talk to friends internationally with just the tap of a fingertip and only have to pop to the shops for something to eat? It is amazing.

But have you also noticed not everyone has this luxury; that inequality, pollution and poverty are only a few of the unsolved issues affecting thousands across the globe and there’s not been one day of total peace recorded in history.

The world is far from perfect but we have the power in our hands to change that and come pretty close to it.

The Round Square Sustainability Conference at United World College South-East Asia (UWCSEA) in Singapore included over a thousand students from across the world, six of us from Gordonstoun, discussing the importance of sustainability in the development of a brighter future for our world and

how we can encourage this understanding amongst the population, looking at the different leverage points and their complexities.

By damaging our world now we are effectively stealing from future generations. Sustainability is about taking what we need now but maintaining what we have and making it able to sustain itself in order to avoid jeopardising people being able to meet their needs in the future.

We listened to some inspiring and influential speakers about their journeys in the effort to make our world more sustainable such as Tim Jarvis (environmental scientist and adventurer), Kavita Ramdas (advocate for human rights and an influential member of the feminist movement) and Nidhi Kapur (worked for International relations and for the Red Cross and other similar organisations in conflict and post conflict zones). Also, we learnt about multiple charities including the Blue Dragon Foundation in Vietnam which serves the needs of children on the streets including youths who have been trafficked, are victims of crime, live on the streets or have disabilities and the Epic Arts charity in Cambodia which brings people with and without disabilities together using the arts as a form of expression and empowerment.

We were given the opportunity to discover Singapore and witness the growing harmony between nature and modern industrialisation introduced with sustainable means of sourcing energy.

When we first arrived however, we were each given a gas mask - protection from the overhanging smog from the Indonesian forest fires that settles over Singapore, known as ‘The Haze’. Occasionally it was so bad we were told to stay indoors because of the intense risk it posed to our health. However one could see this as strangely fitting considering our conference was about sustainability and it gave an element of urgency, revealing the strong reality of pollution and acted as a constant reminder of the meaning behind the conference and why sustainability is so important for all our futures.

In addition, we had a day devoted to service in which every individual went out to perform a specific task in aiding the community. This included working in primary schools, visiting elderly homes, beach cleaning and litter-picking. My group visited the Institute of Mental Health which was a truly touching and beautiful experience that I found strongly impacted us all emotionally and was unforgettable.

The little each of us all did, individually or collectively, had a massive impact across the island.

By the end of the conference, we each came away with opened eyes. Our planet is beautiful but if we don’t do something now, it won’t be for much longer.

A quote that stayed with me from the conference was ‘the smallest act of kindness is worth more than the best of intentions’.

Act today, change tomorrow.

rhianna Parry, Year 12

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tALL sHIPs rACE to norWAY Hannah Ware, Year 13

I have always grown up with boats. I live on the shores of Belfast Lough and sailing has always been a big thing in my family. We always helped out at previous Tall Ships festivals whenever they came to our city. So when the opportunity arose to take part in the actual race on board Ocean Spirit from Belfast and sail to Norway (an almost equally familiar place to me) I jumped at the chance.

The Race to Norway began just off the coast of Northern Ireland. The sea was flat, the wind was in our favour and we were all keen to begin. Everyone put everything they could into the start as we knew that this would be one of the most important parts of our race. We could see all the other Class C vessels which just made us even more determined to do well.

After getting off to a good start we had to maintain the momentum. We knew that Ocean Spirit was at an advantage as we sailed up the west coast of Scotland. Every so often, other boats pulled out of the race, due to the conditions. They radioed our captain to ask for advice. Every time another boat pulled, we would have the feeling of relief, as there was less competition, but there was also concern for the other boat. I should say at this point nothing awful happened to any boats but I felt the disappointment of the other crews.

Dawn broke and we were all quite exhausted. My watch had just woken up and so we changed over, relieving the other watch. We were sailing close-hauled - thirty degrees from the wind - one false move and we could lose the race. As the helm changed over there was a slight loss of concentration between the helmsmen and that was it - we were head to wind. We knew then that if we didn’t do something we would ruin our chances of getting to Norway. At this point it was all hands on deck as we changed each sail in turn so eventually we had the biggest sails possible and were going as fast as we could. The sea was particularly tough at this point but we held on tight and tried to get on with the job. Night fell as we had a number of tacks to do. At times this meant that both watches had to be out on deck working in force eight winds with up to ten foot waves crashing over the bow of the boat, drenching everyone to the skin.

As we passed Orkney there was only one Class D boat in front who had gone the usual route along the outside of the land which would be longer but with better winds. However, due to the experience of our Captain and First Mate,

we took the short cut, the risk paid off and by midnight, little did we know, but we were in the lead.

It was at this stage we were all so excited to get to Norway and reach the goal we had been aiming for. Each day we would listen to the shipping forecast, and up until now, the winds were mostly in our favour; however, the latest forecast wasn’t such good news as it said that in a couple of hours the winds would die down. It was at this stage that we were only a couple of hours away from the finish line and Norway. Each watch worked tirelessly and eventually at 3am, after passing through the Norwegian oil fields with the oil ship as beacons in the distance, we crossed over the line. Finally we could breath a sigh of relief and the motors could be turned off, the hard work was over. Minutes later and the winds died down. We had made it.

As we worked to get the boat ready for port we noticed we were being followed by a Norwegian TV crew. It was only really at this point and when we arrived in Ålesund that we realised that we crossed over the line first and that not all the other boats had been so lucky with the wind.

Even though we had crossed the line first we were still unsure about how well we would rank overall, as each boat has a handicap and Ocean Spirit’s isn’t as good as most. It was only days later when we were on a cruise around the fjords that we were woken up by We are the Champions playing as loud as possible from Mr Lerner’s speakers, that we knew we had made it! First over the line and First in Class C!

I would honestly say that Tall Ships is without a doubt the toughest thing I have ever done but probably the biggest accomplishment. They say that if you ever want to find yourself you should go to sea and now, from experience, I would say this is so true. On Tall Ships I was able to learn a lot about how to cope under any circumstance and try to do my best at all times.

they say that if you ever want to find yourself you should go to sea and now, from experience, I would say this is so true.

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gordonstoun: A dIFFErEnt CLAss sabine richards, Communications director

In December 2013 I took a call from ITN Productions asking if we would be interested in taking part in a documentary to follow their successful series on Harrow, which had been shown on Sky 1 that autumn. Sky had specifically asked ITN Productions to approach Gordonstoun because they were looking for a school that differed in ethos but was equally iconic in its own right. The very obvious contrast between the long established London, all boys school and a co-educational school in rural Scotland made us the obvious choice.

Between ITN’s initial phone call and the start of filming in August 2014 there were months of deliberations, site visits and discussions of filming protocols. The main area of concern was to make sure the wellbeing of students was protected. The rest is history. Filming started - in true Gordonstoun fashion - with a bang. The film crew were thrown in at the deep end having to get to know Gordonstoun’s geography, ‘language’ and staff and students with the Scottish Referendum and the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit only days away.

In the early days of filming there was huge pressure on both sides (the film crew and the school’s) to ensure that the students and staff were able to lead as normal a life as possible and that the film crew got what they needed. It

the school’s Perspective

was a fine balancing act which all parties worked tirelessly to achieve. Frequent meetings, cups of coffee and detailed planning went into making sure the film crew knew about upcoming events that might be of interest and to ensure the logistics of filming were worked out. We are incredibly grateful to all the staff at Gordonstoun who were terrific all year at letting us know about events that might be of interest. We too got to see things at the school which we would never normally have encountered - auditions for the Valentine’s singing, the Hallowe’en social and the Round Square Cabaret being some of the highlights!

Overall, the end result is a documentary which we believe depicts the school in a balanced and accurate way, through the eyes of the students - the school’s best advocates. The ITN Productions team have skilfully articulated much of what the school is about - it’s ethos, the breadth of its curriculum and pastoral strengths. It has been a privilege to have worked with the ITN Productions team on this remarkable and exciting project.

A typical day? At gordonstoun? not sure that exists. Katrina Inkster, Producer Director

stAtIstICsFilm crew based in Elgin: 5nights spent in Moray: 266 (38 weeks)Hours of editing: 2400 (60 weeks / 300 days)Flights taken: 71 Equipment hired: drone, helicopter, jib, extra cameras

Vehicles hired: 2 x production cars, 2 x 4x4s, 18 others

Laura and Vicky

Will

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gordonstoun: A dIFFErEnt CLAss the House Perspective

Amy Chapman, Housemistress, Windmill Lodge

Over the course of the academic year 2014-15 we had an ITN crew following our every move. They joined just as term was about to start in late August. Little did they know just what was in store! Laura, Vicky and, latterly, Katrina were going to live the Gordonstoun life which our girls do day in day out.

Understandably, to begin with it was very strange; how often do you have a film crew in your House as you wake up or filming House meetings? The Windmill girls were amazing - after the initial excitement they settled down into the normal routines of school life and no longer gave the camera a second thought. We formed a great relationship with the crew, ensuring that the girls and boys needs were paramount.

I would be lying if I said there weren’t times when it was difficult. The filming often added extra time to simple tasks

like House meetings or the girls cleaning the tea room. My favourite episode is Episode 6; the Sail Training Voyage story is lovely and shows just what Gordonstoun is about. So, after a year the film crew knew this ... and we all know much more about how observational documentaries are put together, which is certainly very interesting.

A year on it is lovely to see the special moments and experiences that have been caught on camera. We all know what a special place Gordonstoun is and what amazing young ladies and young men we have, and now everyone can see that for themselves.

What the students thoughtThe crew were all really nice people who truly became a part of Round Square as they had the same fun as us and made an effort to be part of the House. Pablo Gonzalez, Round Square

Being a new student to Gordonstoun it was hard to adjust especially with a camera crew following you around, but as time went on great friendships were formed and they were amazing people. Shalise Defreitas, Windmill Lodge

As I was just starting at Gordonstoun I found it odd to see cameras all the time, but as it went on I found an interest in film and it has broadened my horizons. Georgina Gordon, Windmill Lodge

It was hard to get used to them at the start but we grew to like it as the crew were very friendly. Getting to know the crew made us forget they were here filming. Hamish Thorpe, Round Square

I would be lying if I said there weren’t times when it was difficult.

stAtIstICsProduction team based in London: 6release Forms signed: 829Places visited by crew: Aviemore, Badaguish, Braemar, Barcelona, Cromdale, Culbin Forest, Edinburgh, Findhorn, Fort George, Glasgow, Hackney, Hopeman, Plockton, Skye, York

Minutes spent swimming in Moray Firth: 2

Gareth

Katrina

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For the best part of the last year a team of intrepid and talented ITN filmmakers - self-shooters, producers and data wranglers – chose to leave the comfort and warmth of their own homes to shoot a six part series for Sky in the remote north east of Scotland. For there, nestled among the wilds of the Moray coast, is Gordonstoun; 200 acres of a documentary maker’s highland dream.

It is a genuine precinct with multiple locations: a fire station, an 80ft state-of-the-art ocean going yacht, grand and ancient architecture, a fully equipped theatre, impressive sports facilities, all set in picturesque grounds perfect for capturing the stories of the students and staff that live the school life.

It’s not often in television that one is offered such a broad canvas to portray the lives of a group of people. But getting under the skin of one of the UK’s most venerable schools and royal alma mater is another matter.

For the shooting crew of just five - Will Hustler, Katrina Inkster, Gareth Morrow, Vicky Munro and Gaz Evans - who lived the experience, working long hours, often six days a week, that was the challenge. And building relationships, as always in observational documentaries, was the key to making a series like this work. They worked hard to build and maintain relationships with the teachers, Gordonstoun’s nervous Marketing department and, most importantly, with students. Their office for all this feverish activity was a small box room in a prefab that also houses the school’s IT department.

As you can imagine, an institution like Gordonstoun runs to quite a strict timetable, with the boarders up at 7:30am to be ready for House meetings and then chapel before a full school day begins. For the team on-site - and for us in London - it was important to look ahead, to forward plan our various shoots of school activities and our featured characters around the school calendar and timetable.

Each storyline, scene or person we wanted to film had to be pre-arranged through not only the Housemasters/mistresses and teachers but also the Marketing department, guardians of the Gordonstoun brand.

Initially - and understandably - both sides were cautious and the early months of the

gordonstoun: A dIFFErEnt CLAss

school year were fraught as we danced around each other. The school was taking a big risk allowing us almost unfettered access. While those on the Gordonstoun side had to learn a whole new vocabulary, ‘jimmy jibs’, ‘fixed rig’, ‘Go Pros’, etc; we on the telly side had to learn how to conduct ourselves to negotiate tricky requests for storylines.

We certainly weren’t there just to paint a pretty PR picture of life at such an exclusive establishment. There were many months of conversation over stories featuring ‘naughty’ children or those who struggle in such a full-on environment. How do you tell the story of someone who misbehaves or has difficulties, representing the truth of the matter, without having an adverse impact on the child concerned?

As time passed, thankfully the caution turned to trust. They could see we cared about the characters and stories and weren’t about to embarrass or disgrace their students. And we could sense a relaxation in the formality of the school. They had their rules and lines in the sand and so did we. Somewhere in the middle we came to an accommodation that I believe allowed us to really explore the nature of this unique school and somehow capture its essence. When we wanted to place Go Pros in classrooms, or give students cameras to record themselves direct, they would allow us to do it, never once asking to see the rushes. The door was open and we were allowed to look around.

But of course it is the characters that make such a series and we were blessed with characters. Out of the 600 pupils who go to Gordonstoun, there were all kinds of people from over 40 different countries. We went in with an open mind. Many of the children may have been from privileged backgrounds - children of celebrities, business leaders and royalty - but we didn’t know who they were for the school would never tell. To us they were just school kids who had this amazing place in which to study.

And the kids didn’t seem to care either. Very few carried themselves with the sense of entitlement you would imagine. Watching rushes back or filming it often felt like we were eavesdropping on a slightly posh comprehensive where everyone was treated

An article by series Producer, nick Kenton, for transmission, the magazine of Itn Productions

TRANSMISSIONthe itn staff magazine November 2015

NO ORDINARY SCHOOL: BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE NEW SERIES FROM ITN PRODUCTIONS

PLUSNEWS AT TEN

DISPATCH FROM DAMASCUS

CAPITAL GAINS

Alex Chandler on revamping ITV’s flagship news programme

Lindsey Hilsum on the challenges of reporting from Syria

Rachel Corp on her ambitions for ITV News London

GORDONSTOUN

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the same whatever their background. This initially caused our commissioners at Sky some concern – ‘where are the privileged and the princesses?’ - but even they eventually came to understand and accept the nature and ethos of the place in which we were filming.

Those students who agreed to feature on camera are the stars of this series. They embraced the filming process from the start. Some were intrigued; others unsure, some even helped us, filming video diaries or assisting the crew.

Our cast of characters were drawn from two boarding houses: the girls of Windmill Lodge and the boys of Round Square, the iconic circular building that features heavily in the series. As they came to know the crew they opened up, giving us a real sneak peek into their day-to-day lives. They learned to work with our cameras as they intruded on lessons or poked their lenses into play rehearsals. They allowed our team to follow them through the routine of school life, like chapel, meal times and prep as well as the extraordinary; riding shotgun with student fire-fighters on a call out - on the school fire engine - to assist the regular Fire Service as they tackled a full-on blazing barn.

For the team there were some memorable filming moments… like filming in a full scale mountain blizzard as two of our featured girls, Lizzie and Oda, were being taught winter skills. As the girls tramp across the glen, braving needle sharp hail and snow with a cheery smile, Will and Gareth, our Producer Director (PD) and Assistant Producer (AP), are also completing the hike while wrestling with their camera gear to get the shots that count. The soundtrack of comments from the camera mic, when they can be heard over the wind noise, is unrepeatable!

Probably one of the biggest technical challenges was filming the six day sail training voyage on the schools 80 foot yacht Ocean Spirit. Will and Katrina, our PDs, had to live and work with the 16 students and three adult staff on board for the duration. There was literally no cat-swinging room and it certainly took a level of commitment and professionalism. On this trip they captured what the school seems to be about. They

witnessed team work, resilience, problem solving and courage from the kids as they dealt maturely with an on-board fire, a Force 9 gale and buckets of vomit.

When you shoot close to 2,000 hours of footage there are always going to be some stories you leave out. There is some great footage shot completely by Year 12 kids themselves as they go on an unaccompanied expedition into the local mountains for their final outward bound activity of the year. The material they shot was inventive and could have been cut together as story in its own right.

Often when we gave the pupils cameras to record moments we couldn’t possibly capture, they returned them full of surprises. Frankie, one character we follow as she becomes Head Girl - or school Guardian - filmed herself during an Oxford entrance weekend. When the footage arrived in the edit, we were delighted. Her VT selfie captured all the wide-eyed innocence and teen anxiety of such a trip. There was a truth and intimacy that we could never have caught on camera.

What was the experience actually like? While the team on site had many day-to-day production challenges to face, my personal experience was often at a distance, dealing with matters down the phone or on email and mainly spending a lot of time with editors, edit producer and execs in various dank, dark ITN edit suites, shaping narratives, writing scripts, grumbling, laughing and eating too many biscuits! Hence the highland bulge round my midriff.

Over the years I’ve made quite a few TV shows but this genuinely was a career highlight. It involved a collaborative and engaged team, as well as a lot of dedication, pain and hard work to shoot and hone down thousands of hours of rushes into six 45 minute programmes. There were tears and laughter, both on and off screen. But it was ultimately a pleasure to produce. Hopefully this is reflected in the finished episodes.

Gordonstoun’s school motto is Plus est en Vous - There Is More In You - and I think this was as true for us making the series as it is for all Gordonstoun students. A character building challenge. Maybe we took a bit of their highland magic with us.

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sErVICE oVErsEAstHAILAnd the Project Keenan Wells, Year 13 The people we had the privilege of working with, and how we all pulled together made it a fantastic project. We quickly settled into the villagers’ huts and were given a rundown of what we were doing each day. It was equal parts technical stuff and labour, the former being undertaken by the guys from the Pakanyor Foundation. Our work largely consisted of carrying buckets of cement mix up and down a steep hill, then combining, pouring, and smoothing it out - not forgetting digging trenches and carrying pipes from the village to the source. The villagers were very keen to help out, and their work ethic was vital to the success of the project. We even had time to build a road out on a steep hill to enable vehicles to get in during the rainy season, and returned to the local school to try to build an obstacle course. Unfortunately, our efforts there were sabotaged by poor weather. Still, I think that what we achieved really made a difference and, if we were successful in that, then I couldn’t ask for anything more.

the Cultural Aspect Laura richards, Year 13During our time away we had multiple opportunities to experience the extraordinary culture which Thailand has to offer. In our mid-project break we visited two temples where we learned about Buddhism and how many of the Thai people worship, we also had a chance to go swimming in a river nearby. While in Chiang Mai, at the end of the project, we experienced the Thai markets which were an assault on the senses, with so many colours, smells and things to see it was truly overwhelming. On one of our last days we also visited an elephant park and zip wire course, this was a great way to end the project. Overall Thailand was a great mix of hard work and great experiences; the things we all got to see and do while away were completely different to anything else I have ever done.

the Impact Ciara Middleton, Year 13One thing that I will always remember is the way the villagers accepted us into their homes and worked alongside us. We were strangers to them who didn’t speak their language but

they took us in and treated us like their own. Despite the difficulties they face, the Karen people were always so happy and cheerful. It taught me to be thankful for the things I am so fortunate to have. On the last day, after having said our final goodbyes to the villagers, we were all noticeably quieter on our last journey in the back of the pickup trucks we had come to love.

roMAnIA

Twelve students spent the first two weeks of their summer holidays running a summer school for disadvantaged young people at Little John’s House near Sibiu in the heart of Romania. While there we provided a wide range of activities that catered for everyone who attended summer school. Many came from a local orphanage and others from a nearby hospital. We posted a daily blog which included pictures and reflections from students, below are a couple of examples of how students felt about the project and the impact it had on them.

Maddy Abbs, Year 13Almost every second of my time here has been filled with fun and intensity. Even the moments when we are meant to be relaxing as a group have been centred around not quitting. Between hosting summer school and playing with those who live at Little John’s, I think I have managed to experience many different types of people, from the quiet and content, to the noisy and energetic and sometimes just the cheeky ones. I have also had a small view into what it is like for Ana, Costica, Vlad, Laur Julia and Andrada who live in Little John’s and form the most amazing family together. I have spent much of my time during summer school with a girl called Nikoletta, or Niko for short. Niko is very quiet, however her smiles are wonderful. I have enjoyed my time here so much and I can’t believe I soon have to say goodbye, as I would love to stay here for longer, to see even more smiles.

Eliza Forsyth, Year 13Looking around the garden in this immense heat and seeing everyone with huge smiles on their faces makes this project

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the most worthwhile thing I’ve done and it makes me feel I am making a difference to the lives of some of these people. The feeling of knowing you can have such a positive impact on some people is indescribable. When I realised that the simple action of throwing a ball, splashing in a bowl of bubbly water or even just sitting and keeping these people company could be the most human stimulation they’ve had for weeks, I felt a little overwhelmed and upset. There are so many people who need caring for that there isn’t enough time to have fun and take a break with some of the kids. This is why I appreciate that what we’re doing here is so simple yet so important.

EtHIoPIA rishika Kedia, Year 13

The best week of my life was spent in a small village in a third world country mixing cement.

During the summer holidays, 14 students set off to Ethiopia on our service project. Our aim was to build a staff room for Mayedaro school in Northern Tigri. Our guide, Solomon, explained to us how teachers often had to spend hours in the sun correcting papers and making lesson plans whilst sitting on a rock, which made the school less attractive to good teachers. A staff room would attract more teachers from the city which would increase the capacity of the school and make it viable to apply for a government grant which would help to develop the school further. We also held a summer school for the children of the school where we taught them English and Geography.

Our first destination was the capital Addis Ababa where we spent the day exploring the city and acclimatising. Our second destination was Lalibela with its famous churches carved out of the rock. They were breathtaking and a good way for us to start our immersion in Ethiopian culture.

When we arrived at the village of Mayedero we were greeted by a huge welcoming party made up of Church Elders and

many children and parents from the local community. This made us feel like celebrities, popcorn was thrown up in the air over us, music was playing, horns were blowing and lots of coffee was made! It was all really overwhelming. Our aim to complete the staffroom was now even more important.

We quickly got into a daily routine, rising early at 7am as it would be cool and peaceful at this time. The first few days were spent carrying sand and moving large rocks to create the foundations for the staffroom - we moved 13 tonnes of sand in three days. While some of us were doing this the skilled local builders were teaching us how to build the walls. We started mixing cement - some of us were better at it than others! - but we all tried our best. The locals were great fun to work with; even though we didn’t speak the same language we managed to make each other laugh. We all tried learning some basic words in their language such as ‘yak-yen-yelli’ which meant thank you and ‘tuh-boh’ which meant good job as they were the words most commonly used by both parties.

The summer school was a great way to interact with the children. They knew so much more than we thought and were exceptionally good at maths. We also played games with them such as duck duck goose, and taught them nursery ryhmes to improve their English, their favourite one was Old McDonald had a Farm.

My favourite moments were getting our hair braided by the local girls; seeing the locals cheer harder than us when we won the football match; and playing on the swing set with the children.

On the last day we managed to achieve our goal of putting the roof up on the staff room and it was genuinely the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. Sleeping on the classroom floor, eating boiled vegetables each day, not having a shower for over a week, was all worth it. We sat on the bus ready to leave, all feeling blue, thinking that we would never see the children again, but as the bus set off, they all ran behind it to see us off and we all stuck our heads out of the window to wave back at them.

the feeling of knowing you can have such a positive impact on some people is indescribable.

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romeoandLizzie Parker, Year 13

During the Autumn half term, the Drama and Dance departments joined to take our production of Romeo and Juliet on international tour. We first performed it here in school in June 2015 and we then did a short tour of three Scottish Prep Schools (Craigclowan, Cargilfield and Ardvreck) at the beginning of the Autumn Term before leaving for the USA at the start of half term.

The US Tour was in two parts and we had four performances over ten days. First we went to Boston where we performed at Boston Latin School, the oldest school in America, in their Black Box Theatre to a group of over 150 students. We also enjoyed exploring the city, visiting Faneuil Hall Market Place and the Boston Tea Party Museum and walking part of the Freedom Trail to learn something of the history of the city and its important role in the independence of the United States.

One day we took the ferry to Salem where we visited the Salem Witch Museum and learned about the events that led to the famous Salem Witch Trials, immortalised so brilliantly in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible. Whilst in Salem we took a break from performing to watch (and sing along with) a fun production of The Rocky Horror Show, part of the Haunted Happenings Festival that was going on while we were there.

We left Boston to go down to Brooklyn where we spent the next few days staying with host families from Middle School 51. Brooklyn was fantastic, with a lovely relaxed atmosphere and our host families made us all feel really at home. Our first Brooklyn performance was at Edward Murrow High School which is a very large school (4000 students). It has a strong focus on Performing Arts and we enjoyed meeting some of their Drama students during a workshop led by our teachers and theirs. We loved performing in a new space which had the audience seated on two sides of the stage. Following the show, we took part in a fantastic Question and Answer session with the audience and Craig recited Robert Burns which everyone thought was just brilliant!

On Tuesday, we went into Manhattan where we had a bike ride around Central Park and visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Then we headed off to New York University (NYU) where we did a performance to a group of PhD education students studying Theatre for Young Audiences. It was quite an intimate show in a small acting studio with no theatre lighting and was followed by another interesting Q&A session.

On Wednesday we all enjoyed having a bit of down time in Brooklyn before our final performance of Romeo and Juliet in the very large theatre at MS51. It was great to be able to perform for so many of the people who we had become friends with whilst in Brooklyn and even better to receive a standing ovation for our final show.

It felt sad to be leaving Brooklyn on Thursday but we headed to Manhattan, knowing that we still had exciting things

ahead of us... We celebrated the end of Romeo and Juliet with a meal at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, where the waiting staff performed Broadway hits as we ate! We had a cruise on Hudson Bay with views of the Statue of Liberty from the water followed by an amazing stage fighting workshop with a Broadway choreographer and a trip to see the Broadway smash Something Rotten. Following the show we went backstage and saw the theatre from the stage, and imagined ourselves up there in front of an audience in the future! We ended the tour with a midnight trip up the Empire State Building to look out at the nighttime city of New York which stretched out as far as we could see.

We had a fantastic time in Boston and New York. We’d like to thank Mr Hoskins, Mrs DaBell and Mr and Mrs Parker for taking us on tour and giving us such an amazing experience.

FootnotE:While he was in New York, Charlie Bailey, who played Romeo, toured the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, for which he had previously auditioned in London. We heard just before the end of term that he has been offered a place with a scholarship at this prestigious establishment for next year. Well done Charlie!

juliet uSA tour

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green day’s American Idiot - the musical - was our major production at the end of the autumn term and it wowed the audiences. We were the first school in the uK to perform the gritty and challenging Punk rock musical. Approximately 70 students were involved in this high-energy piece of theatre, and every single performance was sold out.

Following the story of three disaffected youths from mythical Jingle town, the plot sees relationships form and founder in an era post 9-11. Futile self-destruction and escapism through narcotics and thrill-seeking is no answer: friendship and family, finding your community and your own direction is what it’s all about.

Congratulations must go to all the students who displayed outstanding levels of passion, energy and skill in every single one of their roles. the audiences were spellbound by the production; from the exceptional quality of music led by rob Parker, to the mesmerising acting directed by Laura Parker and the energetic dancing choreographed by sarah daBell. the audiences left with a spring in their step and wishing they could go back for more.

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18

AutuMn tErM sPorts

rugby Ruari Hobkirk, Captain of Rugby

Rugby has gone well so far this year. We drew our first game in pre-season which was against Highland RFC who are old rivals of the school. Pre-season then continued with our head coach, Mr Brown, putting the 1st XV through rigorous fitness sessions to blow the cobwebs away after our long summer.

Once we got into the regular school year the team started to gel naturally as a unit. We then began to feel comfortable with our fellow teammates and therefore breezed through a few home games. In the early part of the season we were losing a lot of players due to extra-curricular activities and sail training voyages and, unfortunately, during this period we came up against a strong Robert Gordon’s side who beat us at home, resulting in the first home loss of the season.

We are currently second place in our league below Perthshire RFC U18s which is our next match. A win will hopefully bring us closer to first place in the league.

Football Omar Khalil, Captain of Football

During this term the football team has excelled in all aspects of the game. Our first match ended in a heavy defeat in the local league; however, through hard work and keeping a positive attitude, we have not lost a game since; this included a 4-2 victory over local rivals Lossiemouth High School and an emphatic 10-0 win against Milne’s High School. We are currently sitting in second place in the local league, nevertheless there are still many more games to come and we will continue to work hard and persevere to ensure we gain 1st place. We are also in the Independent Schools’ Cup where we won our first game against a physical Dollar Academy side 3-0. One of our strikers, Nicklas von Wrangel has played for the North of Scotland Under 18 team, where he scored two goals during his first match.

The team truly came together in the second half of the term, playing some champagne rugby, which makes us excited for the coming Cup games. These will be played at a higher level and we now believe - and are confident that - we can compete at this level.

It has been a mixed start to the term for the junior teams. The U16s continue to work extremely hard in training and are showing vast improvements. Their games have been really close and the team is working on being more clinical to turn losses into victories. The U15s have had a bright start to the year with some key victories against Aberdeen Grammar RFC 17-12 and Ellon RFC 31-13. One of the most promising sides is the U14 team, which has had some fantastic displays and the improvements the boys are making in training is impressive. They have pushed Glenalmond close and have had key wins against Aberdeen Grammar 17-10 and Ellon RFC 45-5.

We have many more fixtures to look forward to and I am very confident that this year’s football team can go on to be very successful.

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girls’ Hockey Iona Short, Captain of Hockey

The beginning of term led to some changes for the hockey squad; a new assistant coach, the addition of new Year 11s and a new AstroTurf. Training has been intense; practicing our personal skills and building our strength as a unit. Forwards and midfielders have been perfecting outcomes and defence have been working on tackles.

So far this term the teams have got off to an extremely good start with both U14 and U15 teams securing wins against Dingwall Academy and Quasars. The 2nd XI have progressed a lot as a team winning against Kingussie High School, Quasars and have had many competitive matches. The 1st XI have had a very successful and busy term, competing in the Independent Schools’ tournament and qualifying for the National Final which will take place in March down in Glasgow.

netball Laura Richards, Captain of Netball

This term has been a good start for Netball across the board. With more matches than usual for the Autumn term it has been great for everyone to get some match practise along with our training sessions. With a new coach, Miss Buchan, joining us the girls have been put through their paces. This has paid off with some great results. Our Year 10 team has had an especially good beginning, winning their second Scottish Cup match against Thurso High School 32-7 and putting up a good fight against Grantown

squash Ciara Middleton and Omar Khalil, Captains of Squash

The autumn term has proven very successful for squash. The A team has been progressing well in the First Division of the Highland League with Alfonso and Craig earning some crucial games. The other teams are coming on well with a lot of the players being new students.

As for squash activity, it is as popular as ever with the boys and it is good to see some new faces on the squash courts. Girls squash is also developing well with new players. Staff and students seemed to have responded well to the new squash ‘Box leagues’ in which Round Robin tables are drawn every fortnight to be played in a certain time period.

Overall everyone’s squash is developing very positively and we have Mr Georgeson and all the other staff members to thank for this.

Grammar. The highlight for them, though, has to have been beating the Gordonstoun 2nd VII! For our first team it has also been a busy start winning matches against Fort William Falcons and also against Thurso High School 47-19. With more games still to play this term we hope to continue this winning streak.

We have a very strong group of girls this year and we are all really looking forward to the start of the Netball season next term.

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sPotLIgHt on… the Gordonstoun War Memorial

At first glance it would appear that the Gordonstoun War Memorial is a modest plaque on the stairway or Colour Bearer’s staircase at the entrance to Gordonstoun House. In fact there are three separate plaques, the original commemorating twenty three members of the school community who died during World War II and two smaller plaques adjacent to the main one. These pay tribute to three more OGs; one who died in Korea and two in Ireland. The main plaque was erected in the late 1940s at the insistence of the father of the Polish boy who died fighting in his country’s resistance movement.

The full story behind the memorials is more complex because, in the confusion of the school returning to Moray at the end of the Second World War, proposals for a tribute changed a number of times. A mural above the memorial plaques conveys a vision of how the school would grow in the years after the war. On this, a rather grand scheme is portrayed to build an extension to Round Square as a memorial library in tribute to the war dead, but this was vetoed by Historic Buildings Scotland in the 1950s. However, work had already started on a set of steps inside Round Square and a stone doorway had been carved for the entrance. After the project was cancelled the steps were removed, the stone doorway was brought to Gordonstoun House and was erected as an entrance to the Headmaster’s office. This can be seen to the right of the mural so in some ways the whole wall can be seen as a memorial to the fallen.

Smaller memorial plaques were added later, one after Lord Mountbatten and his grandson were killed by an IRA bomb in Ireland and another in 1992 to commemorate a soldier killed

in the Korean War and an airman who died in Northern Ireland. Each year at the school Remembrance Service the twenty six names are read out by the Guardians and for many years the plaques and the oral tribute have been all there is to remember those OGs who made the supreme sacrifice.

Back in 1970 the Headmaster John Kemp gave a Remembrance Address at Stowe School where he was impressed by their Book of Remembrance. He then wrote to his predecessor Henry Brereton asking for information on individuals listed on the memorial plaque. Brereton replied by hand with brief notes on each individual. This letter and the correspondence between the school and surviving relatives after World War II is still in the school archives. When David Byatt was School Warden in 1992 he collated further correspondence with outside agencies and in collaboration with one of the Governors, Grenville Johnston, further research was undertaken. This was passed on to myself in 2001 and finally in 2015 a digital record has been produced, which celebrates the lives of each person.

This is now available in the Gordonstoun Association section of the school website under the War Memorial tab. The information on each person has been enhanced through the power of internet research and contacts with surviving relatives. At a later date it is also hoped to produce a Book of Remembrance once the research is completed.

The stories of those commemorated involve accidents, tragedy, horror and bravery, all created by the fortunes of war. The WWII casualties range from Northumberland to the Pacific. One civilian died attempting to save a group of evacuee children when their ship was torpedoed in mid Atlantic, six were airmen, and the five casualties killed in Italy chart the long hard slog of the American Fifth and British Eighth Armies from Sicily to the north Italian plain. As part of the research I visited the Italian war graves the week prior to the 2015 Remembrance celebrations and returned with a record of their graves and memorials.

Also commemorated is a former German student who died fighting for his country on the eastern front at Smolensk. Two members of staff were Killed in Action, both army Majors commanding companies in the Seaforth Highlanders, one during the invasion of Sicily and one in Normandy in the aftermath of the D-Day landings.

Each story reminds us of the debt we owe to all who fight for freedom and the need for constant vigilance to protect that freedom and our way of life. This is magnificently summed up by the words quoted on the Kohima memorial in India, ‘When you go home tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today’.

david Monteith, former member of staff

The Colour Bearer’s staircase with the memorial plaques, the vision of a greater Gordonstoun and the stone doorway

tHE gordonstoun AssoCIAtIonsteve Brown

From Left to Right:Claire Macgillivray (Windmill ‘85) - previously managed various aspects of supply chains for global FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) companies. From 1 January 2016 she will be the new Director of the Gordonstoun International Summer School.

tamara Borozdin-Bidnall (Windmill ’05) - Human Resources Officer at Sothebys, responsible for all entry-level recruitment.

sarah Anderson (Hopeman ’07) - cancer epidemiologist at a pharmaceutical consulting firm in London.

Camilla staunton (Plewlands ’00) - currently working on her own property investments and self-catering portfolio.

Marc Waddington (Bruce, 2000) - Executive Editor at the Daily Post in Wales, previously Political Editor at the Liverpool Echo.

georgie Middleton (Hopeman ’78) - currently a Work Place Chaplain and qualified Lay Reader. She is also the Chairperson of the Gordonstoun Association.

stephan von Massenbach (Duffus ‘98) - Director at Modular FX Services, an independent analytics, information technology and advisory services business, in the area of Foreign Exchange/financial markets.

Front Row:tom Boland (Round Square ‘08) - Planner at Universal McCann, the media arm of an international advertising agency.

george Hill (Duffus ‘08) - Subsea Technical Sales Engineer, working for oil and gas services provider Expro.

Also present was:gareth Jones (Gordonstoun ‘06, absent from picture) - current Junior School Assistant with a scholarship from Oxford University to study Applied Linguistics next year based on exploring how young children acquire language through vowel rhythms.

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A wise Headmaster once said a school should be judged not solely by its fabric and infrastructure, nor by its examination results or even by its current crop of students, but by the quality of its end product - its old boys and girls. Thus the annual OG Careers day is an opportunity not only for the students of Gordonstoun to gain some invaluable careers advice, but to assess whether the school ethos is borne out in its alumni. Judging by the evidence on display at this event, we can be very confident that this is indeed the case.

In his introduction on the Gordonstoun Web page, Simon Reid explains that ‘the enduring uniqueness of Gordonstoun is its mission to promote and ensure the development of international citizens for the twenty-first century - and it provides a curriculum which ensures that this actually happens’.

‘The evidence for success is clear. You will find members of Gordonstoun ten years after they have left are invariably happy, successful and receptive to others and other communities. This is an education that caters for all types, treats them as individuals and considers what they can do for the world as well as what they may need from it’.

The OGs below returned to school in October to take part in this event, meeting with all of the Year 11 students in the afternoon and having Dinner with members of Year 12 and Year 13 later in the evening. The Gordonstoun students really enjoyed meeting and listening to the advice offered by the OGs who, in turn, were enormously impressed by the warmth of welcome and by the maturity and enthusiasm of the boys and girls they met.

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gordonstoun IntErnAtIonALsuMMEr sCHooL

These are the words we frequently read on the student’s questionnaire responses at the end of the Summer School courses. As parents, current students or OG’s, you will not be surprised to hear that they enjoy it so much, because it is a three week exposure to much of what Gordonstoun offers.

Each year the Summer School welcomes 300 boys and girls from over 35 countries to enjoy a programme built on the philosophy of Internationalism and learning through challenge. Academic courses are dovetailed into a full and lively programme of sports, creative arts and technology, confidence building, drama, music making and recreation activities (quad biking, cooking, laser tag, riding etc.)

We offer English as an Additional Language at advanced, intermediate and elementary levels - this means total English immersion given our staffing levels of one staff to every two students. For confident English speakers, additional options are offered; Spanish Language, Computer Applications or Literature with Creative Writing.

The course also includes a six day ‘adventure programme’ based on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland – where students spend three days walking, canoeing, coasteering, canyoning, climbing and abseiling and three days sailing one of the Summer School’s fleet of ocean going yachts around the Western Isles.

As an OG myself (Windmill 1980-85), I believe that the International Summer School programme can be a good introduction to Gordonstoun or boarding life in general. If you have friends who might be interested, please do encourage them to contact us or have a look at our website for further details.

“The best three weeks of my life.”Course no I Friday 8 July - Monday 1 August 2016

Course no 2 Friday 15 July - Monday 8 August 2016

Claire MacGillivray, Director, Gordonstoun International Summer School

E: macgillivrayc@gordonstoun.org.uk W: www.giss.org.uk

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newsfrom the Junior school

It was a very sad day when we learned that Shonagh had died after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Incredibly, and with much admiration from everyone who knew her, she fought this tough battle with characteristic good humour and with undiminished spirit.

Shonagh taught at the school for 23 years, retiring at the end of the Autumn Term 2013. During her long and very loyal service she exemplified the school motto and ethos throughout her teaching and pastoral duties, going the extra mile for the benefit of the children. Amongst her many contributions to school life, and one which will be an enduring legacy, are the weekly ski days at the Lecht which Shonagh organised every Spring term. The annual Year 8 Cape Wrath Expedition was another event which Shonagh would never wish to miss as she loved sharing her knowledge of birds and expeditioning with the children which was reflected in the marvellous photographs she took of them exploring their surroundings.

In Shonagh’s latter years at the school, she taught maths with dedication and a great deal of care for the children and she could always be relied upon by her staff room friends as a supportive and friendly colleague. Former pupils of the school will fondly remember “Mrs D”, as a kind and passionate teacher. Her pet dog, Jinty, was a popular visitor and also much loved by the children. Shonagh remains firmly in our memories as an inspiration to both children and adults alike and she will be hugely missed by us all.

Shonagh is survived by her children, Neil and Aileen, as well as her three grandchildren of whom she was very proud.

shonagh davidson, an obituary

Welcome to new staffPhoebe CsenkiI am from Angus originally and attended Glenalmond before taking my degree at Edinburgh University. After graduating I taught at Kilgraston in Perthshire and was an AHM for three years. Then I moved to Kazakhstan for four years where I taught both Music and primary in the Haileybury schools in Almaty and Astana. My husband, Adam, and I arrived at Gordonstoun last year and this year I am delighted to be teaching the new Year 3 class who are a wonderful group of children. I am very impressed by how supportive they are of each other and by how enthusiastic they are about the many activities they are involved in at the Junior School. When I first arrived the thing that struck me about the staff and pupils here was their positivity and the warm and supportive environment of the school. I feel privileged to be part of such a special school!

gareth Jones

I was awarded a full scholarship to Gordonstoun for Year 12, which allowed me to break out of my challenging social circumstances and put me on track for University. I received a first class honours in Education from Durham University and became a Primary School teacher. Before my appointment as Junior School Assistant (JSA), I was awarded a full scholarship to Oxford University to study Applied Linguistics at the Department of Education, which I hope to complete next year to become a teacher researcher. Thank you to Gordonstoun and the Junior School for the JSA appointment which I am enjoying so much, for the ethos that has allowed me to gain so much, and for the opportunity to give back to the school I love.

Charlotte McCulloughI come from a rural area in South Canterbury, New Zealand, where my family have a mixed farm. Before deciding to travel I taught at a Year 7/8 class at a state primary in Timaru, South Canterbury, and an independent school in Marton, North Island. At the Junior School I have a Year 6 form class who I teach English, Maths and Computing. I also take Year 4 Art, Year 5 History and Year 7 Maths. My impressions of the Junior School are that it provides children with amazing opportunities across the curriculum and outside the classroom. The students are kept very busy and rise to meet the expectations that are set on them. The staff are a very friendly and helpful group of people who have made my adjustment much easier. I have very much enjoyed this first term here and look forward to upcoming adventures.

olivia richardsI am from South London. Before joining Gordonstoun I worked in Wales in the summer as an outdoor instructor for a small outdoor centre in Llanarth (West Wales). I have also completed two years at university studying Adventure Education, with this year being my year out on placement. I am one of two Junior School Assistants and the majority of my lessons are with the older pupils, working with Mrs McVean in the Maths room. I have a small role in the PE department running fundamental hockey for Year 3 and 4 as well as participating in hockey with Miss Saxby and Indoor Athletics with Mr Georgeson. I have enjoyed everything so far in the Junior School and I am looking forward to the rest of the year.

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ALL ABout sPortThroughout the autumn term pupils at the Junior School have been enjoying a number of sporting opportunities, the focus for boys has been Rugby and the season has been packed with fixtures. The boys have won more than they have lost and have shown clear improvements throughout the term. The girls have been developing their Hockey and have had a successful season under the watchful eye of Mr Wilson and Miss Saxby. The improvements have been particularly noticeable amongst the girls’ teams and some high scoring victories during the season have been extremely pleasing.

This term Games time during afternoon activities sessions has operated slightly differently. We have introduced Indoor Athletics throughout the school and pupils have been improving their explosive power with the school’s Strength and Conditioning coach, Mr Georgeson. The idea behind this change is to create athletes who can then go on to compete in a number of sports as opposed to simply encouraging skills development in a single sport. This change has also been adopted at the youngest end of the school and Year 3 and 4 pupils have combined to explore a number of different activities. This has happened during their ‘Mixed Sports’ session with the intention of developing fundamental skills such as hand-eye coordination, ball control, teamwork and spatial awareness to name a few. Pupils have continued to receive sessions specific to rugby and hockey during the week, however the focus for the youngest pupils has been Mixed Sports and we hope to see the benefits in the coming years.

In addition to sports-filled days, evening activities have proved popular and pupils have had the opportunity throughout the term to participate in Cricket, Tennis, Netball, Squash, Football or Swimming, and they even competed in a local Primary School Basketball Tournament which, with the benefit of some well-developed transferable skills, we managed to win. These evening sessions, which aim to develop skills further in a wider variety of sports while enjoying the opportunity to play in a friendly social setting, have been well attended.

Mr Ryan Denyer, Junior School Sports Co-ordinator

This year’s Neil Wylie Memorial Concert in St Christopher’s Chapel featured many outstanding soloists as well as ensembles such as the Pipe Band, String Group, Concert Band and

Chamber Choir.

As a first this year, the Year 3 class gave a rendition of Bear Hunt much to the delight of the audience. Every pupil got a chance to perform in one of the two large choirs, Junior and Senior Choir and raised the

roof with their voices.

To close the concert, the Junior School Orchestra, which included almost every pupil in the Junior School, performed a rendition of Ravel’s Bolero. It was certainly a dramatic finish!

nEIL WYLIE MEMorIAL ConCErt

tHE Host WItH tHE Mostthe JUnIoR sChooL nAtIVItY PLAY ChRIstMAs 2015

Christmas was a very exciting time for the younger pupils in the Junior School as they worked towards staging their Nativity performance in St Christopher’s Chapel. This year, we decided to create an entirely original piece, written and directed by Mrs Hopkirk with a charming score by Mr and Mrs Csenki, to better suit the talents of our pupils and we were able to incorporate a cappella, rap, solos, duets and even some dancing camels. Tea towels, tinsel and fairy lights abounded in The Host With The Most, the story of a fierce competition between the angels and the stars in a bid to herald the birth of Jesus. Of course, in true Gordonstoun fashion, teamwork and the Plus est en Vous attitude won through for a happy festive ending.