Robert Gordon's College
Encyclopedia
Robert Gordon's College (known by the abbreviation RGC) is a private
co-educational day school in Aberdeen
, Scotland
. The school caters for pupils from Nursery-S6.
ports, and was known at foundation as Robert Gordon's Hospital. This was 19 years after Gordon had died and left his estate
in a 'Deed of Mortification' to fund the foundation of the Hospital. The fine William Adam-designed building was in fact completed in 1732, but lay empty until 1745 until Gordon's foundation had sufficient funds to complete the interior. During the Jacobite Rising
, in 1746 the buildings were commandeered by Hanoverian troops and named Fort Cumberland.
Gordon's aim was to give the poor boys of Aberdeen a firm education, or as he put it to "found a Hospital for the Maintenance, Aliment, Entertainment and Education of young boys from the city whose parents were poor and destitute". At this point all pupils at the school were boarders, but in 1881, the Hospital became a day school known as Robert Gordon's College. In 1903, the vocational education component of the college was designated a Central Institution
(which was renamed as Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology in 1965 and became the Robert Gordon University
in 1992). Boarding did not return until 1937 with the establishment of Sillerton House. In 1989 RGC became a co-educational school.
The modern school is divided into a Nursery, Junior School, and Senior School, and caters for boys and girls from 4 to 18 years. RGC has long had a reputation as one of the stronger academic schools in Scotland, and follows the Scottish curriculum. In 2006, there was a 90% pass rate at higher, and 35 pupils gained 5+ passes at A grade. 98% of leavers went on to higher education
, the majority at Scottish Universities such as St. Andrews, Glasgow
, Edinburgh
and Aberdeen
, but also 10 pupils gaining entry to Oxford
and Cambridge
.
This has been the motto of the College since 1881 when Robert Gordon's College superseded Robert Gordon's Hospital. It is taken from Virgil's Aeneid, Book VIII, line 441, where the words are spoken by the god Vulcan to encourage his workers.
The crest of the Gordons of Pitlurg is on the left of the coat of arms and the crest of the Burgh of Aberdeen is on the right.
The four houses are:
. At certificate level, the school offers Standard Grade
or Intermediate 2
courses in S4, Higher
usually in S5 and Advanced Higher or secondary qualifications at Higher
in S6.
The S1/S2 course is structured by individual departments.
At S3/4 level the first certificate course is introduced. Separate departments have chosen either Standard Grade or Intermediate 2, having decided which course was better for progression. S3/4 pupils choose 8 subjects, including Mathematics and English, as well as Physical Education (and Information Communications Technology in S4). A core course in Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies is also compulsory (as well as this, it can be taken as an Intermediate 2 course).
In 2002 the College achieved great success in hockey
winning the Scottish Reserve Cup, the Scottish School's Cup and the North District League. The success continues at the college as the North District Under 16 and Under 18 squads are heavily made up of RGC players every year. The 1st XI boys of 2011 have also had recent success, where they won the Scottish School's Cup, making them Scottish school champions for the 2010-2011 season.
In golf
they have also had considerable success.
RGC has the highest intake of the Duke of Edinburgh candidates in the whole of Scotland - more than twice as many as any other taking part in the award scheme. In 2006, 66 candidates are doing the Gold Award. In contrast, in 2005, Aberdeenshire Council produced only 6 Gold Candidates.
The Combined Cadet Force
(CCF) is also renowned for being one of the best in Scotland consisting of the RAF and Army.
In 2004, the school won the Military Skills Competition in Barry Buddon. This competition allows the top 7 CCF Army sections in Scotland to compete for the trophy. In 2005, they came 2nd. In 2006, they came 3rd. In 2007 they came 2nd. In 2008 they came 2nd. In 2009 they came 1st. In 2010 they came 4th.
The various dramatic societies put on performances on multiple occasions annually which raise money for various charities. In session 2008/2009, donations went to Children 1st
, and this session (2009/2010), the chosen charity is the Camphill.
In April 2010, The College worked with Forecourt Art Group to put on an exhibition in aid of the Archie Foundation. 20% of all sales went to the charity, with over £550 being donated.
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
co-educational day school in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The school caters for pupils from Nursery-S6.
History
It originally opened in 1750 as the result of a bequest by Robert Gordon, an Aberdeen merchant who made his fortune from trading with BalticBaltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
ports, and was known at foundation as Robert Gordon's Hospital. This was 19 years after Gordon had died and left his estate
Estate (law)
An estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time. It is the sum of a person's assets - legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind - less all liabilities at that time. The issue is of special legal significance on a question of bankruptcy and death of the person...
in a 'Deed of Mortification' to fund the foundation of the Hospital. The fine William Adam-designed building was in fact completed in 1732, but lay empty until 1745 until Gordon's foundation had sufficient funds to complete the interior. During the Jacobite Rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
, in 1746 the buildings were commandeered by Hanoverian troops and named Fort Cumberland.
Gordon's aim was to give the poor boys of Aberdeen a firm education, or as he put it to "found a Hospital for the Maintenance, Aliment, Entertainment and Education of young boys from the city whose parents were poor and destitute". At this point all pupils at the school were boarders, but in 1881, the Hospital became a day school known as Robert Gordon's College. In 1903, the vocational education component of the college was designated a Central Institution
Central Institution
A central institution was a type of higher education institute in 20th and 21st century Scotland responsible for providing degree-level education but emphasising teaching rather than research. Some had a range of courses similar to polytechnics elsewhere in the United Kingdom while others were...
(which was renamed as Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology in 1965 and became the Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Building on over 250 years involvement in education, it was granted university status in 1992. Robert Gordon University currently has approximately 16,407 students at its two campuses at Garthdee and the City Centre, studying on over 145...
in 1992). Boarding did not return until 1937 with the establishment of Sillerton House. In 1989 RGC became a co-educational school.
The modern school is divided into a Nursery, Junior School, and Senior School, and caters for boys and girls from 4 to 18 years. RGC has long had a reputation as one of the stronger academic schools in Scotland, and follows the Scottish curriculum. In 2006, there was a 90% pass rate at higher, and 35 pupils gained 5+ passes at A grade. 98% of leavers went on to higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
, the majority at Scottish Universities such as St. Andrews, Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, but also 10 pupils gaining entry to Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Arms and motto
The Latin motto of the college, 'omni nunc arte magistra' is understood by all at the school to mean 'now you should use all your masterly skills'.This has been the motto of the College since 1881 when Robert Gordon's College superseded Robert Gordon's Hospital. It is taken from Virgil's Aeneid, Book VIII, line 441, where the words are spoken by the god Vulcan to encourage his workers.
The crest of the Gordons of Pitlurg is on the left of the coat of arms and the crest of the Burgh of Aberdeen is on the right.
House system
The school operates four houses, to one of which each student is allocated upon entering the school. The houses compete for different sporting and academic trophies throughout the year, and determine each student's form class.The four houses are:
- Blackfriars - named for the DominicanDominican OrderThe Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
monkMonkA monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s (or black friars due to their garb), that once had a conventConventA convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
adjacent to the school grounds. - Collyhill - named for Alexander SimpsonAlexander SimpsonAlexander Simpson was an American journalist, attorney, and Democratic politician. He served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and as Assistant Attorney General of New Jersey.-Biography:...
of Collyhill who bequeathed a large sum of money to the school, which allowed for more boys to join the school. - Sillerton - The origin of the Sillerton house name is not clear, but it is believed that, in Robert Gordon's lifetime, he was known as Gordon of Silverton (siller being ScotsScots languageScots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
for silverSilverSilver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
), and on a 1746 map, the school is identified as Sillerton Hospital. - Straloch - named for Robert Gordon of StralochRobert Gordon of StralochRobert Gordon of Straloch was a Scottish cartographer, noted as a poet, mathematician, antiquary, and geographer, and for his collection of music for the lute.-Life:...
, one of the first graduates of Marischal CollegeMarischal CollegeMarischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
, studying humanities, mathematics and philosophy.
Education
Robert Gordon's College follows the Scottish Credit and Qualifications FrameworkScottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is the national credit transfer system for all levels of qualifications in Scotland...
. At certificate level, the school offers Standard Grade
Standard Grade
Standard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
or Intermediate 2
Intermediate 2
Intermediate 2 level is Level 5 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. Though equivalent to the Credit Level Standard Grade, there is an element of debate to this as it is perceived to be more difficult in some subjects, but less in others....
courses in S4, Higher
Higher (Scottish)
In Scotland the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education...
usually in S5 and Advanced Higher or secondary qualifications at Higher
Higher (Scottish)
In Scotland the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education...
in S6.
The S1/S2 course is structured by individual departments.
At S3/4 level the first certificate course is introduced. Separate departments have chosen either Standard Grade or Intermediate 2, having decided which course was better for progression. S3/4 pupils choose 8 subjects, including Mathematics and English, as well as Physical Education (and Information Communications Technology in S4). A core course in Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies is also compulsory (as well as this, it can be taken as an Intermediate 2 course).
Extra-curricular activities
During the 1980s and 1990s Robert Gordon's College developed a powerful reputation for its debating. There is an internal debating championship for S1-3 and the college takes part in many other competitions externally, such as the English Speaking Union competition. (The Courier was also a competition until 2009.)In 2002 the College achieved great success in hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
winning the Scottish Reserve Cup, the Scottish School's Cup and the North District League. The success continues at the college as the North District Under 16 and Under 18 squads are heavily made up of RGC players every year. The 1st XI boys of 2011 have also had recent success, where they won the Scottish School's Cup, making them Scottish school champions for the 2010-2011 season.
In golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
they have also had considerable success.
RGC has the highest intake of the Duke of Edinburgh candidates in the whole of Scotland - more than twice as many as any other taking part in the award scheme. In 2006, 66 candidates are doing the Gold Award. In contrast, in 2005, Aberdeenshire Council produced only 6 Gold Candidates.
The Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
(CCF) is also renowned for being one of the best in Scotland consisting of the RAF and Army.
In 2004, the school won the Military Skills Competition in Barry Buddon. This competition allows the top 7 CCF Army sections in Scotland to compete for the trophy. In 2005, they came 2nd. In 2006, they came 3rd. In 2007 they came 2nd. In 2008 they came 2nd. In 2009 they came 1st. In 2010 they came 4th.
Notable former pupils
Former pupils include:- Eric Auld, artist
- Ian BlackIan Black (swimmer)Ian MacIntosh Black is a Scottish former swimmer. He was BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1958 at the age of only seventeen and is still to this date the youngest winner of the award...
was a Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth GamesThe Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
gold medalist, and BBC Sports Personality of the YearBBC Sports Personality of the YearThe BBC Sports Personality of the Year is an awards ceremony that takes place annually in December. Devised by Paul Fox in 1954, it originally consisted of one titular award. Several new awards have been introduced, and , eight awards are presented. The oldest of these are the Team of the Year and...
in 1958 at the age of only seventeen. He later returned to RGC as Headmaster of the Junior School. - Martin BuchanMartin BuchanMartin McLean Buchan is a Scottish former footballer. Buchan was a central defender for Manchester United in 1972–1983, and captained the late 1970s teams for six years...
, former footballer and captain with Manchester United, Aberdeen and Scotland - David CarryDavid CarryDavid Robert Carry is a Scottish swimmer of Faroese heritage. His specialism is freestyle, and he has represented Scotland at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games...
, Commonwealth gold medal winner - Chris CusiterChris CusiterChristopher Peter Cusiter is a Scottish rugby union player who plays at scrum-half. Cusiter played for the British and Irish Lions in their 2005 tour of New Zealand. Originally from Aberdeen, where he attended Robert Gordon's College, he now plays for Glasgow Warriors. He left the Border Reivers...
, Ruaridh JacksonRuaridh JacksonRuaridh James Howard Jackson is a Scottish rugby union footballer. He plays professional rugby for Glasgow Warriors....
and Stuart GrimesStuart GrimesStuart Brian Grimes is a former Scottish rugby player and captain. Grimes' previous clubs include Padova, Border Reivers, Newcastle Falcons, Caledonia Reds, Watsonians, Edinburgh University, Robert Gordon's College. He was previously Newcastle Falcons forwards coach...
, Scottish rugby players - George Donald, one-third of Scottish comedy act Scotland the What?Scotland the What?Scotland the What? were a Scottish comedy revue act comprising William "Buff" Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald.Buff Hardie and Steve Robertson first met in the Aberdeen Student Show in 1952. George Donald, another University of Aberdeen student, wrote music for the 1954 Student Show, but...
- Professor Ian FrazerIan FrazerProfessor Ian Frazer is the Director of the Diamantina Institute. He is a creator of the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer; the second cancer preventing vaccine, and the first vaccine designed to prevent a cancer. .- Education:He was born in Glasgow, Scotland...
, who worked to develop the HPV vaccine. - The Rt. Hon. Michael GoveMichael GoveMichael Andrew Gove, MP is a British politician, who currently serves as the Secretary of State for Education and as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the Surrey Heath constituency. He is also a published author and former journalist.Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen...
, journalist and politician, Secretary of State for Education 2010 - present - Buff Hardie, one-third of Scottish comedy act Scotland the What?Scotland the What?Scotland the What? were a Scottish comedy revue act comprising William "Buff" Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald.Buff Hardie and Steve Robertson first met in the Aberdeen Student Show in 1952. George Donald, another University of Aberdeen student, wrote music for the 1954 Student Show, but...
- BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
presenter Robbie ShepherdRobbie ShepherdRobbie Shepherd MBE is a presenter on BBC Radio Scotland, hosting the shows Take the Floor and The Reel Blend.He was born in Dunecht, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and is a fluent Doric speaker, having contributed Doric Columns to the Aberdeen Press and Journal .He has, for many years, been a... - Nicol StephenNicol StephenNicol Ross Stephen, Baron Stephen of Lower Deeside in the City of Aberdeen is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen South, and was leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2005 to 2008...
, politician - Scott Sutherland, architect and founder of the University's School of Architecture at their Garthdee campus
- Stewart Sutherland, Baron Sutherland of HoundwoodStewart Sutherland, Baron Sutherland of HoundwoodStewart Ross Sutherland, Baron Sutherland of Houndwood, is a British academic and public servant and one of the UK's most distinguished philosophers of religion.He was educated at Robert Gordon's College...
, academic and public servant - Robert A. ThomRobert Absalom ThomRobert Absalom Thom was the final Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway, and became a key figure in the locomotive departments of the company's successors, the Great Central Railway and the London & North Eastern Railway.-Biography:Thom...
, steam locomotive engineer - Sandi ThomSandi ThomAlexandria "Sandi" Thom is a Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She became widely known in 2006 after a series of webcasts and the success of the single "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker ".-1984–2004: Early life:Thom was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire...
, singer - Jack WebsterJack WebsterJohn Edgar "Jack" Webster, CM was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, radio and television personality.-Life in the United Kingdom:...
, local writer - John WestJohn West (politician)John West was Depute Provost of the City of Aberdeen from May 2007 until July 2009. He became the youngest person elected as a Local Authority councillor in Scotland on the 3rd of May, 2007 at the age of eighteen with the Scottish National Party...
, Depute Provost of Aberdeen (elected at the age of 18). - Aberdeen City Councillor, Kirsty West, elder sister of John WestJohn WestThe Rev. John West emigrated from England to Van Diemen's Land in 1838 as a Colonial missionary, and became pastor of an Independent Chapel in Launceston's St. John's Square in 1839. His contribution to Launceston and Australian life was great and varied promoting private and charitable...
(above). Elected to Aberdeen City CouncilAberdeen City CouncilAberdeen City Council represents the Aberdeen City council area of Scotland.The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. Act 1994...
in 2007, at age 21, and appointed as Education spokesperson for the council. Also now a Governor of Robert Gordon's College. - Sir Ian Wood, Scottish businessman and Chancellor of the Robert Gordon UniversityRobert Gordon UniversityRobert Gordon University is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Building on over 250 years involvement in education, it was granted university status in 1992. Robert Gordon University currently has approximately 16,407 students at its two campuses at Garthdee and the City Centre, studying on over 145...
- Peter J. Stephen, Lord Provost of Aberdeen
Charitable causes
Robert Gordon's College is known for its great support of charities within Scotland and the UK. The school's Charities Committee organises and chooses the charity for many different events. Every year there many House events, which earn points for the various houses, such as the Karaoke and Lip Synch. These events raise a lot of money and a recent Comic Relief Talent Show raised over £2000.The various dramatic societies put on performances on multiple occasions annually which raise money for various charities. In session 2008/2009, donations went to Children 1st
Children 1st
Children 1st is a Scottish charity which aims to give every child in Scotland a safe and secure childhood. Also known as the Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children , Children 1st supports families under stress, protects children from harm and neglect, promotes children’s...
, and this session (2009/2010), the chosen charity is the Camphill.
In April 2010, The College worked with Forecourt Art Group to put on an exhibition in aid of the Archie Foundation. 20% of all sales went to the charity, with over £550 being donated.