HRH The Princess Royal visited Aberdeen on Friday (February 19) to open the largest school teaching facility for science and technology in the UK along with a new centre for performing arts.
With support from former pupils Sir Ian Wood (Class of ‘60) and Douglas Craig (Class of ‘67), Robert Gordon's College embraced the official opening of The Wood Foundation Centre for Science and Technology, featuring 34 state-of-the-art laboratories, alongside The Craig Centre for Performing Arts, a first class performance and digital recording venue.
Speaking with pupils and staff about science, technology, engineering and arts at the school HRH The Princess Royal learned about how the new facilities accelerated high quality teaching and learning for pupils, and increased an inter-disciplinary approach to education.
Mr Simon Mills, head of college said: “Demonstrating our ambitious plans and commitment as a regional hub for science and arts education we are proud to share these world class facilities and showcase the opportunities that these new centres bring to pupils in the North East of Scotland. This unique development provides inter-disciplinary learning environments for the pupils and a regional venue at the heart of the city.
“During her tour of The Wood Foundation Centre for Science and Technology HRH The Princess Royal met with pupils and staff from physics, computing science, biology, chemistry and technology. She engaged with a variety of demonstrations and experiments of both classwork and extra-curricular activities including the mysterious world of chemiluminescence: the emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction, using your mobile phone as a microscope to view crystal structures, a robotics car built and programmed by pupils and a ROV model from a project that links to underwater tasks in the marine environment.
“Learning more about the arts opportunities available at the school she visited the senior school artwork on display in The Craig Centre art gallery, viewed the digital recording studio and spoke with pupils from the recent senior musical show ‘West Side Story’.”
A junior school pupil choral performance of ‘Silver Darlings’ and ‘Northern Lights’ was followed by the senior school ceilidh band who entertained guests ahead of the official unveiling of the commemorative plaques with two specially written traditional music pieces.
Mr Mills added: “We are honoured to have had HRH The Princess Royal here today, which marks an important milestone in the history of Robert Gordon’s College. We are joined by many of our supporters to share this special moment where we officially open these fabulous new facilities and regain our historic quadrangle.”
This is the third visit to Robert Gordon’s College where HRH The Princess Royal previously opened Countesswells Playing Fields in 1992 and a new Library in 2000. The formal opening is one of many celebration events taking place throughout this school year which includes a series of lectures, workshops and master classes for pupils, families and the wider community.
Mr Mills concluded: “We are astounded by the generosity of the Gordonian and Aberdeen community who are helping us realise our vision of creating a world class school. We look forward to further life changing educational experiences in these terrific new facilities.”