Gordon's School on inclusive boarding

Sam Cooper, Head of Boarding at Gordon’s School, on the many benefits of state boarding for young people and their families

Sometimes described as education’s best kept secret, many state boarding schools offer the facilities, pastoral care and academic excellence afforded by their independent counterparts but at greatly reduced cost.

There are around 30 state boarding schools in the UK. The state funds the tuition fees for these schools, parents the boarding aspect. This means full boarding, an excellent education and pastoral care, enviable facilities, and a fantastic range of co-curricular activities. Added to which, state boarding schools offer the traditions, history and House structures championed by their independent counterparts. 

They are subject to the rigorous demands of Ofsted for both their day and boarding aspects and also reflect the mix in society, with children from different and diverse backgrounds and cultures. Alongside the financial benefits, state boarding schools are a popular choice for many families due to the school staff’s familiarity, expertise and experience in dealing with children from a range of backgrounds and cultures – including those in Service families.  They offer a home from home and a place of consistency and stability. Demand for places at state boarding schools is high. Gordon’s School, for instance, is non-selective but gives priority to children with a clear need to board – such as those from military families.

Boarders are kept busy. The extended school day for both day and boarding students at Gordon’s means a co-curricular activity every weekday and Saturday mornings, with supper and prep for all. We offer a choice of over 128 co-curricular activities, from chess or board games to mock trials to Model United Nations.

Every student has the opportunity to join the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), in either Army, Navy or Air Force. As well as providing an insight into the Services and more adventurous activities, becoming a cadet promotes soft skills such as leadership, discipline and being part of a team.

A rich seam of heritage and tradition runs through our school. As the National Memorial to General Gordon, with an unbroken line of Sovereign Patrons, students at the school are proud the history here and the part they play in it. The tradition of marching, started in 1885, when the school first opened as a home for ‘necessitous boys’, is continued with drill every Friday, regular whole-school parades and an annual parade, led by the school’s Pipes and Drums through Whitehall to General Gordon’s statue on the Thames.

These regular drills, marches and parades not only instil discipline in the students of Gordon’s but strengthen bonds between older and younger students. Marching is just one of the many ways that young people are encouraged to be the best they can be, for something bigger than themselves. Further unity comes with the chance of taking part in Ten Tors and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) expeditions. These activities are seen as vital not only for physical wellbeing but for improving our students’ transferable skills and, ultimately, their opportunities in whatever they decide to do after leaving school.

The ties and memories made during their school days here are reflected in the number of former students that return to teach, give back by offering careers advice or delivering talks to current students – even playing for the alumni’s sports teams.

Gordon’s School gordons.school

Further reading: Duke of York’s Royal Military School on ensuring boarding success