Reflections from Gordonstoun, Birthplace of the Award

November 15th, 2024

When Kurt Hahn founded Gordonstoun in Moray, Scotland in 1934, he brought with him a commitment to experiential learning, character education, and helping students discover their interests and passions. From this grew the basis for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

Current Gordonstoun Principal Peter Green was kind enough to share his own reflections on the Award and the impact it continues to have on his school’s students today, the same impact we see here across the United States.

“My Gold Duke of Edinburgh was quite simply the most exhilarating pursuit I have ever participated in.” Perhaps, not what you would expect to hear from one of our senior students who had just walked 70km over four days in gale force conditions.

However, the profound impact on him and thousands of young people in 120 countries around the world taking part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is often life changing.

We are incredibly proud as the birthplace of the award after Gordonstoun founder, Kurt Hahn, first set up a framework in 1936 called the Moray Badge, to connect with the local community. With the support of Prince Philip, one of the first pupils at Gordonstoun, this evolved to become a national framework in 1956. Within two years, the program was being delivered overseas.

I have long admired Hahn’s vision, which has had a significant influence on my own educational philosophy over the past 22 years in school leadership. In my new role as Principal at Gordonstoun, like Hahn, I firmly believe that students need to encounter ‘Challenge’ in all that they do and above all to develop their sense of ‘Compassion.’

Currently, nearly all the students at Gordonstoun – aged between 13 and 18 years – voluntarily take part in the DofE Award. The principles of the framework are fully integrated into the school curriculum and horarium.

The awards are just as relevant today as they were almost 70 years ago, with the addition of residential trips to the focus on physical activities, skills, volunteering and expeditions. They now form a regular part of ‘student life,’ which chimes with Hahn’s vision.

We know the desirability of having a DofE award on your CV, which is often the deciding factor for employers attracted to hiring someone with social responsibility, fortitude and compassion.

At Gordonstoun we are world-leading in delivering a Hahnian education to our students.  At the heart of this, is our proud participation in the DofE framework which helps our students to connect with cultures in every corner of the globe.

About Peter Green

Peter, born in Dumfries, read Geography at Edinburgh University and completed his PGCE at St Andrew’s College. He has 17 years of Headship and Executive leadership experience at Ardingly and Rugby School. Peter has served as a governor in several independent schools and since 2014, has expanded The Rugby School Group to include a further four schools in the UK, Thailand and Japan.

Peter has always had a deep interest in Hahnian education and a love of Scotland. He is joined at Gordonstoun by his wife, Brenda, with whom he has two grown-up children. Peter’s interests include church, rugby football and music, in particular choral music.