Discover Germany | Special Feature | Institut Schloß Wittgenstein
TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN I PHOTOS: SCHLOSS WITTGENSTEIN
An education for success, an experience for life The Institut Schloss Wittgenstein Boarding School prepares children not only for their professional future, but also for their personal lives in a multinational society. Situated in the grounds of the picturesque castle Wittgenstein, set high above the German town of Bad Laasphe, the boarding school has just been refurbished and modernised last year.
says. “The indoor riding arena and the paddock give students the possibility to bring their own horses, plus children can play golf in the nearby club and go skiing in winter.”
ship with businesses including internships, language holidays, exchange programmes with France and England, as well as participation in language, maths and geography competitions. Individual projects which the students have to organise themselves, encourage their independence. They can, for example, take cooking courses in the kitchen or go on weekend activities, watch a musical, a play or a football game.
The boarding school has space for 80 boarders in double rooms. What is important for pupils staying here is to create a familiar atmosphere where they can feel at home. Schloss Wittgenstein Boarding School achieves this by creating small groups and having at least one dedicated guardian, who will always have a sympathetic ear. Wittgenstein is more than a boarding school, it is a place where young people can grow up into happy and responsible adults.
“At our boarding school, traditions are held high, but innovations are embraced, too,” says Gordon Kämmerling, who together with his brother Sven Boris Kämmerling manages the boarding school and the two integrated schools housed within the same grounds. Tradition, moral values and embracing new ideas are reflected in the high standards set in the curriculum for Realschule (secondary school) and Gymnasium (academic-focused secondary school necessary for entering German university). Teachers and boarding school staff work closely together to unite education and personal development. Small classes of 17 to 25 pupils set Schloss Wittgenstein apart from other schools. With bilingual classes in the Gymnasium, pupils will grow up in an international context. Other advantages include vocational preparation, a partner34 | Issue 61 | April 2018
Nearly as important as the staff are the boarding school’s modern and cosy interior and the state-of-the-art equipment including a PC pool, electronic blackboards and Wi-Fi in the entire building. “The campus offers many possibilities for leisure activities as well,” says Gordon Kämmerling.“This includes a gymnasium, sports grounds with additional activities such as tennis, climbing lessons, swimming lessons, martial arts and more,” he