There is More in You: Gordonstoun Boarding School Arrives in Japan

Tokyo has, depending on who you ask, 60 to 80 international schools populating the city. It makes perfect sense: the majority of international families live and work there.

When Gordonstoun comes to Japan, however, it will open its doors in Wakayama.

Why? Because Gordonstoun and its students have never been about choosing the predictable option. As Principal Natasha Dangerfield says, “Gordonstoun students aim to lead, not follow the crowd.” And this bold choice is just the first example of what Gordonstoun brings to the Japanese international school community.

What is Gordonstoun School and who is Kurt Hahn?

One of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious boarding schools, Gordonstoun was established in Elgin, Scotland in 1934 by Kurt Hahn. It is built within the estate of former Scottish Baron Sir Robert Gordon, whose name lent itself first to the land and then the school.

Hahn, originally a German academic, brought his philosophy on development to Gordonstoun to create a curriculum that developed well-rounded adults for the challenges of the world. In a Hahnian education, outdoor adventures and exploration give students a chance to build resilience and encounter moments of self-discovery. Melded into the curriculum of Gordonstoun is a core of active endeavors, including sailing and hiking, where students learn a grit and tenacity that will serve them well throughout their lives, not only in exams.

Beyond endurance, Hahnian education also places an emphasis on service. Helping others, to Hahn, was a moral imperative. Gordonstoun students learn to put the needs of their community first, and rigorously volunteer for active services such as the Fire Service and Coastguard. 

Why open Gordonstoun Japan in Wakayama?

“We sought a location offering challenges and natural features: sea, rivers and mountains — alongside a positive community,” Dangerfield explains. 

The Wakayama campus was chosen with clear intent — to provide the same opportunities as the Elgin campus. With easy access to Wakayama Bay, as well as Kyoshi-no-mori forest and its nearby mountains, students will experience the same memories of adventure and self-discovery as their counterparts in Scotland. Besides this parallel to Wakayama, Dangerfield believes that Gordonstoun’s ethos and philosophy also connects to Japanese cultural values. 

These include ideals such as: 

• hansei (self-reflection and acknowledging one’s mistakes) 
• kaizen (continuous growth and self-improvement) 
• ikigai (purpose and passion)
• zanshin (presence and follow-through) 

They are all vital to the full experience of a Gordonstoun education. Students leave disciplined but not rigid, courageous but not reckless, collaborative not conformist and resilient as well as reflective.

“We prize courage, compassion, resilience and leadership applied in service to others and with deep respect for one another and the environment — a concept at the heart of Japanese culture,” Dangerfield says. But for all the ways in which the school aligns with its new home, a question still lingers.

How will Gordonstoun balance its heritage with Japan’s culture? 

Dangerfield intends to maintain Hahnian principles by pushing students beyond their comfort zones, to see how they rise to the occasion under pressure. Rather than hiking in the Grampians and Moray Firth, Gordonstoun Japan’s students will find themselves amidst the ways of Kumano Kodo and the Pacific waves.

The idea of each task travels back to the very cornerstone of Gordonstoun: to prove to young individuals that they can succeed because there is more in them than they know. And in recognition, accolades such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s award — a globally recognized program intrinsically linked to Gordonstoun’s heritage — will remain a core pillar of student achievement.

However, looking forward is a key focus of Dangerfield’s vision for Gordonstoun Japan, particularly in discussion on technology. Rather than moving away from the future, the students will learn to embrace modern advances instead of shunning them — as they too are part of the future Gordonstoun Japan wishes to equip its students for.

What are the strengths of a boarding school education?

These skills are fostered even further by the structure of a boarding school environment. Without their parents immediately at hand, students quickly learn how to care for themselves, with support and guidance from their peers and the staff. 

Rather than having their day-to-day needs tended to, they grow with each new task they learn to perform alone. And Dangerfield notes, it’s not only the domestic skills they learn in these moments.

“Managing time, organization and leadership is a combined strength graduates leave with,” she says, “with the support, care and empathy of well-trained house staff and older students.”

How will Gordonstoun approach academics?

The independence cultivated both in the boarding house and the wilderness naturally extends into the classroom. Gordonstoun Japan’s ambitious academic program will guide students through a broad IGCSE curriculum before they specialize at the A-level. Rather than chasing exam scores, academic ambition centers on helping each student reach their potential through a mix of intellectual challenges and individualized support.

As students develop their critical thinking and independent study skills, they will be encouraged to dive deep into their own research interests. This journey is backed by personalized university guidance and specialist English language teaching where needed. The approach is grounded in a core Gordonstoun belief: the confidence, resilience and curiosity forged outside the classroom are the traits that drive success within it.

What are Gordonstoun’s goals in Japan?

For all the skills and opportunities that a Gordonstoun Japan education imparts, Dangerfield returns to their values when asked about their goals in Japan. Not just for the students, but the community and staff as well:

“The goal of Gordonstoun Japan is to bring strength to the children we teach, forge a bond with the community we live within and inspire our staff to help make both a reality. This will in turn, empower our students to leave knowing they have a foundation behind them and a network to support them as they set out on their new paths beyond school.”

If you’re ready to learn more about how a Gordonstoun education could set your child on a journey of self-discovery, speak to their team here for a personal consultation.