Education does not consist solely of academics – young people need a well-rounded school experience. And for any parents and carers of school-aged children trying to decide where will best suit their child, the annual Robert Gordon’s College Open Day is a must-attend.
What distinguishes the school from others in the area is the belief of the whole community that each pupil’s potential is limitless and RGC helps them to discover themselves via choice from an unparalleled range of subjects and activities.
Nursery children begin their love of life-long learning through support from a fully qualified teacher and specialist teaching including French, music and PE.
In the junior school specialist subjects include art, drama, French, music, PE and science timetabled weekly from primary 1. Small class sizes with a maximum of 22 to 24 children ensures pupils are supported to develop their individual strengths.
Secondary pupils benefit from a breadth of academic experience. S3 and S4 pupils continue eight subjects to National 5 level and are given personal choice – keen scientists can study biology, chemistry and physics; linguists can take three languages, including latest addition Mandarin; and the full range of 24 subjects provides an unrivalled opportunity to select from courses including accounting, economics and business studies.
S5 pupils choose from 24 Highers subjects and S6 pupils choose from 32 Highers and 24 Advanced Highers. Pupils are supported and encouraged to find subjects that interest them and the structured options available ensures that each pupil maintains a breadth of experience – creating a foundation no matter how fixed they are on their future.
Academic choice sits side-by-side with extracurricular opportunity where primary school pupils have access to over 50 clubs ranging from Young Engineers to rugby to Show Club. Secondary school pupils choose from over 70 clubs from performing arts to sport to music, and everything in between. The school fosters well-rounded pupils and the opportunity for children to find like-minded peers both in and out of the classroom.
And to allow pupils to achieve the best the school has invested £25 million in facilities since 2009.
These include a state-of-the art junior school to encourage independence, innovation and curiosity, the creation of The Craig Centre for Performing Arts and The Wood Foundation Centre for Science and Technology, on-site swimming pool and 39-acre Countesswells sports fields, offering unrivalled sporting opportunity.
With over 250 years of history and tradition, Robert Gordon’s is educating the leaders of the future in an environment where the whole child is considered, and education is not just an academic journey, but a journey of challenge and self-discovery. It offers the diversity of a big school, but with the community and support of a small one.
Take the opportunity to learn more and go to the Open Day on Saturday, October 6. You can also find out more at the RGC website.