Located in a 17th century house near Elgin in Scotland, it was founded as an international school in 1933 by Dr Kurt Hahn, who had chosen to leave Nazi Germany.
It is well-known as the school attended during the 1960s by Charles, Prince of Wales, on the recommendation of his father, Prince Philip. It has been said that Charles was very unhappy there. At that time the school had a reputation for harsh conditions and strict discipline, with pupils typically having to endure lots of outdoor physical activities and cold showers.