King Charles III’s old school Gordonstoun in Moray announces £15million upgrade
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Gordonstoun has announced plans to invest around £15million on fresh facilities, including a solar farm and a new home for its coastguard service.
The school has also obtained planning permission to build a centre to house its sixth form as well as its business and enterprise classes.
Gordonstoun is the only school in the world to have its own coastguard, with students providing assistance to Moray’s regular service.
The new building, which will open later this year, is being sponsored by the Mikellides family who are currently parents at the school.
By the end of this year Gordonstoun also intends to have also begun building the solar farm.
This will be linked to the national grid and provide low-carbon energy for both the school itself and, it’s hoped, some of its neighbours.
Meanwhile, the new classroom centre is expected to open in 2026.
Gordonstoun Principal Lisa Kerr said: “As Gordonstoun celebrates its 90th year, it’s thrilling to be announcing these projects which both look back to our founding ethos of service to others and forward to a more sustainable future for the school.
“This multi-million-pound investment will ensure Gordonstoun offers students exceptional learning environments for academic studies as well as our uniquely broad curriculum.”
Today’s announcement was welcomed by both Richard Lochhead and Douglas Ross, Moray’s MSP and MP, as well as council leader Kathleen Robertson.
It comes just two months after the formal opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Rooms, which are another set of classrooms at Gordonstoun.
Princes Anne, who is the school’s Warden, came in person to perform the honours.
Wendy Mason, from the architects Rivington Street Studio, said: “The new Sixth Form Centre will provide a good quality social space similar to what you would find at university.
“With a training kitchen to learn cooking skills, an informal study area and a café, this new building will give them their own identity and provide a gateway to whatever they do beyond Gordonstoun, whether that is going to university or something else.
“Having the Business Enterprise Hub in the same building is ideal to support and encourage those senior students wishing to pursue a career in business.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our design, meaning the new building will be highly insulated using little energy. Like the Queen Elizabeth II Rooms, it will set the standard for new sustainable teaching and learning spaces across the UK.”
The business centre will be named in memory former Gordonstoun teacher Laurence ‘Laurie’ Beaton, whose son Andrew has provided generous support.
Every pupil at the school is involved with one of Gordonstoun’s nine active services in the local area, which also includes a fire crew as well as a coastguard.
