Schule Schloss Salem

In the upper school students choose between two qualifications: the German Abitur, taught in German, and the two-year IB Diploma Programme, taught in English and offered since 1993. IB students take six subject groups plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS, which echoes Salem's own tradition of service. Subjects include English and German literature, Business Management, Economics, Global Politics, History, the three sciences, Computer Science, Environmental Systems and Societies, Visual Arts and Theatre. Students who do not take the full diploma can sit individual IB certificates. From Grade 8, international classes taught in English to the state curriculum prepare students for the choice between Abitur and IB.

The school covers lower and upper secondary education in the German system. The Junior School (Juniorenstufe, Grades 5 to 7) and the middle years (Profilstufe, Grades 8 to 10) are based at Schloss Salem. From Grade 8, students can join international classes taught in English. The upper school, Salem International College (10PLUS, Grades 11 and 12), is based in Überlingen and leads to the German Abitur or the IB Diploma. The Aufbaugymnasium 10PLUS offers an entry route for students coming from other school types.

Salem follows the educational ideas of its co-founder Kurt Hahn. The school wants young people to discover their strengths and grow into adults who take responsibility for themselves and others. Learning is meant to be active and experience-based rather than rote, combining academic work with practical and creative tasks under the motto of head, heart and hand. Compulsory service in emergency or social roles, student self-government and life in a multinational boarding community are used to build courage, empathy, self-discipline and respect for diversity.

The school uses three historic and modern sites. Schloss Salem, a former abbey, houses the younger students, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a multi-purpose building with an auditorium, and large sports grounds with fields, running tracks and courts. Schloss Spetzgart sits on Lake Constance with the school's own harbour for sailing boats and kayaks, and an indoor bouldering wall. The Härlen campus combines an assembly hall, theatre space, canteen, café and library around a central community building. Overall there are three sports halls, a 400 m track, an artificial turf pitch, tennis, basketball and beach volleyball courts, fitness rooms and guild workshops.

Boarders are looked after by mentors, houseparents and other pastoral staff, with closer supervision for the younger years. A school nurse holds a daily surgery and a doctor runs consultation hours at the school infirmary; psychological counselling and prevention programmes are also available, framed by a Child Protection Policy. The school kitchen is certified organic and serves fresh meals every day as part of the ONE HEALTH initiative. A careers counselling service with specialist advisers supports students from Grade 8 with German and international university applications.

Boarding is at the heart of Salem: around 95 % of students live on site, with up to 600 places. Grades 5 to 10 live at Schloss Salem in small wing groups (about 12 to 14 pupils in the youngest years), while upper school students live at Schloss Spetzgart and the Härlen campus, whose houses have double rooms. Students may go home at weekends, but the school keeps a full weekend programme of sport, culture and trips, and some Salem weekends are compulsory for everyone.

Every student takes at least one sports course beyond regular PE. School teams compete in hockey, basketball, badminton, football and swimming, and other options include fencing, athletics, bouldering, riding, kayaking, sailing, skiing, dance and tennis. Afternoon clubs cover Model United Nations, debating, robotics, mathematics, flight, cooking, photography, orchestra, choir and bands. In Grades 7 and 8 students join craft guilds such as woodworking, precision mechanics, jewellery, sewing and bookbinding. Instrumental lessons range from piano and violin to saxophone and drums,. Outdoor education runs through every year group, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.