Gordonstrain

Gordonstrain is a traditional single-sex public school with an emphasis on discipline, toughness and morals. There are separate boys' and girls' schools. Both are in remote castles in the Scotland. Teachers are mostly former army officers chosen for their physical fitness and belief in traditional values.

The day begins at 5 a.m. with a cold shower and a six-kilometer run in the hills. Food is simple but nutritious. Sports, especially team games such as rugby and cricket, play an important part in the curriculum. They are seen as important for their role in character-building. Discipline is strict and parents must sign an agreement to allow corporal punishment where necessary, although in practice this is rare.

Scandals and criticisms
Some people have criticized the school for being old fashioned with too much emphasis on rules and discipline.  
Two teachers were forced to resign over a scandal involving gay sex with senior pupils last year. 

Single-sex. Boarding only. Fees GBP 6,500 per term.	

Summerthrill

Summerthrill in an ‘alternative’ school, founded1925 by the famous educational theorist Bertram 'Bugsy' Freeman. At Summerthrill we believe that people should study what they want when they want. All classes are optional. Students can choose which classes they want to attend. If they do not want to attend classes, they don’t have to. 

All decisions at the school are made by a school council made up of students and staff. Student and teachers have equal votes.

Summerthrill students are well-known for their self-confidence and independence, something that is lacking in the students of other public schools. Many Summerthrill pupils have gone on to successful careers in the arts, drama, music and the media. 

Scandals and criticisms
Three pupils were arrested and charged with possession of cannabis two years ago. 
The press loves to run scandal stories on the school. 

Co-educational. Boarding only. Fees GBP 6,000 per term.	

Newton College

Newton College was founded in 1965 with the intention of providing a high-quality education with an emphasis on mathematics and science. The founders believed that mathematics, physics and chemistry are the best subjects for intellectual development and a suitable training for any career. Newton College has been successful in producing graduates who have gone on to successful careers in many different fields, such as astronomy, engineering and the stock market. 

Scandals and criticisms
The famous fraudster Conrad White, now in prison for insider trading, is a former pupil.
The school has been criticized in a government report for a lack of sports and other extra-curricular activities.

Co-educational. Day pupils only. Fees GBP 6,500 per term.	

Seton College

Seton is England's most famous public school. It was founded in 1660, and has educated many of the country's leaders statesmen including ministers and prime ministers, as well as important figures in business, the arts and the academic world. The school has been co-educational since 1975. Seton College aims to strike a good balance between tradition and the modern world. Its core values are honesty, modesty and fair-play, and are a main reason why it so respected.

It was once said that an Old Setonian tie was a passport to a top job in the government or business. That may no longer be true today, but men and women educated at Seton frequently go on to play leading roles in all areas of life, both in the UK and abroad. The contacts a young person makes at Seton are likely to be useful for the rest of his or her life. 

Two members of the British royal family have recently attended Seton.

Scandals and criticisms
Many people in the country dislike the school because they think it gives students an unfair advantage.
A boy was expelled last year for running an illegal card game where the bets were almost as high as the casinos of Monte Carlo.
There have been stories in the press of strange secret clubs in the school that hold weird ceremonies after dark.

Co-educational. Boarding only. Fees GBP 8,500 per term.	

Vocabulary check list

adherence
alumni
authoritarian
bastion
bizarre
cannabis
co-educational
corporal punishment
curriculum
extra-curricular activities
glittering career
initiation rites
inside-trader
moral uprightness
nutritious
on a par
poker
public school
racketeer 
statesman