Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Efterskoler – Uniquely Danish
Let your passion for sports benefit your education BGI Akademiet consists of both old and new buildings, together making the framework for a modern and exciting boarding school with plenty of possibilities, especially in the field of sport.
like sports or want to challenge themselves – we have a place for every one of them.”
By Stephanie Brink Harck | Photos: BGI Akademiet
The many possibilities at BGI attract students from all over Denmark which, according to Vestergaard, is very positive. “Meeting people unlike yourself can be incredibly rewarding. You do not just learn to stand on your own at BGI; you learn to be a part of a community, partly because of our joint gymnastic displays.”
A vibrant and dynamic place in constant development, BGI has been continuously growing since 1955, making it the second largest boarding school in Denmark with a capacity for 550 students. Academic and physical education go hand in hand at BGI, in a system where all students live at the school. The two strands impact positively on each other, believes principal Helle Vestergaard. “The students experience a constant interaction between physical and mental work,” she says. “This is something the Danish school system is struggling to incorporate successfully in primary school – here it seems quite natural.” The physical training consists of three programmes: the gymnastics, the sport and the elite programmes. All three 56 | Issue 83 | December 2015
include several minor subjects, such as rhythmic gymnastics, parkour and football. The elite programme is for upcoming professionals, and therefore the students are also allowed to train outside of school as well as receiving special tutoring on campus, including lectures and workshops. The level of education is high, not just for the elite but for all of BGI’s students. “We simply have to aim high to keep up with our students. Therefore, we make sure to work with the best teachers out there,” Vestergaard says. But you do not have to be a sports professional in order to study at BGI. The students come for many different reasons, explains Vestergaard. “Some do want to become professionals, but others just
Through gymnastics, sports and education the students learn about trust and openness. Starting next year, they will be able to invest in their future on a global stage as well. “Next academic year, we are establishing an international programme,” Vestergaard reveals. “Why not? Sport is already something that brings together nations – we want to be a part of that.” For more information, please visit: www.bgiakademiet.dk