One thing is certain: there are countless tips and recommendations on this topic. But which criteria really deserve attention when choosing the boarding school in Germany that is perfect for your own child? Below we have put together 10 criteria for choosing a boarding school in Germany that parents of boarding pupils repeatedly tell us are particularly relevant:
Criterion 1: Educational approach
First and foremost, look at the educational concept of the boarding school on your shortlist. Its philosophy should be in harmony with your own values and ideas. Above all, you should be able to follow the concept – and find it convincing. You can read about our guiding principles on the “Mission statement” page.
Criterion 2: Size and number of pupils
Some children feel more at ease in smaller boarding schools with smaller classes and a high staff-to-pupil ratio, as the atmosphere there is more like a family. Others prefer larger institutions. We are a rather small German boarding grammar school – with around 100 boarding pupils and around 230 day pupils. You will find all the key figures about our boarding school on the “Facts & figures” page.
Criterion 3: Location and surroundings
A boarding school in a rural setting offers different advantages from one in a city. Consider which surroundings best suit your child’s needs. Bear in mind above all that unspoilt nature and beautiful landscapes shape a person for life! You can get a very good impression of what Schloss-Schule looks like in the videos on our “Videos” page.
Criterion 4: Extracurricular (leisure) activities
Whether music, art or sport – extracurricular activities are an important factor in choosing the “right” German boarding school. They have a major influence on a young person’s development and contribute decisively to their well-being. At Schloss-Schule, children and young people will find a huge range of (leisure) activities.
Criterion 5: Reputation
A boarding school’s reputation undoubtedly depends on many factors, and positive (as well as negative) reviews may also be shaped by current events. Nevertheless, the way a boarding school in Germany is actually rated can round off your impression of it. Schloss-Schule is currently (as of 2023) rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on average on both Google and Facebook.
Criterion 6: Care and support
A good boarding school offers support not only in acquiring knowledge but also emotional support. At Schloss-Schule, we have made it our mission to offer the children and young people in our care an atmosphere in which they feel at home – and we take this very seriously. You can find out how we put this into practice on our “Boarding school” page, among others.
Criterion 7: International outlook
Some boarding schools in Germany focus mainly on German-speaking pupils. Others (like Schloss-Schule) have a much more international outlook – in terms of the countries our boarding pupils come from, but also in terms of exchange programmes and partnerships with schools abroad. You can read more about this and other aspects that distinguish our boarding grammar school on our “What makes us special” page.
Criterion 8: Costs and scholarships
The cost of a boarding school in Germany varies enormously – but so do the services offered. Any assessment should therefore always take the value for money into account. Also important: are scholarships or financial support available? Here at Schloss-Schule this is the case, and on a very comprehensive scale. Find out more about our fees and our scholarships and support.
Criterion 9: Quality of the alumni network
A strong network of former pupils can be extremely valuable for future internships, mentoring and future career opportunities. Here at Schloss-Schule we cultivate our relationships with our former pupils very intensively (partly for this reason). One colleague, for example, looks after relations with our alumni and Schloss-Schule networking exclusively.
The “Alumni” page of our website gives you a first insight into these activities.
Criterion 10: Communication with parents
At a good boarding school, parents should always feel welcome, be kept informed on an ongoing basis, be encouraged to ask questions and (if they wish) be able to contact teachers and the administration regularly. All of this is very much part of everyday life at Schloss-Schule! We keep parents fully informed, and they are always welcome to talk to us about their children. Among other things, we therefore guarantee parents that we can be reached 24/7!
Tip: Be sure to visit the boarding school on your shortlist in person!
Choosing the right boarding school in Germany is undoubtedly crucial for your child’s positive development. So take enough time for your research, and be sure to visit the boarding school on your shortlist in person (together with your child) to get a feeling for whether this boarding school in Germany really best suits your child’s needs.
You are warmly invited to see for yourself. Arrange a visit for yourself and your child and order a Schloss-Schule information pack right away.
And here once again: 10 good reasons for our boarding grammar school Schloss-Schule Kirchberg.
