Quick summary of key school information
School details
Number of students |
600 boarding school places for girls and boys (95% of the students are boarders) |
Number of nationalities represented in the school |
Schule Schloss Salem is Germany's most prominent boarding school, both at home and abroad. Currently, students from 47 different countries live and learn together, reflecting the diversity of our world today. |
Most common nationality |
German. |
Ratio of local students to international students |
60 : 40 |
Native English and German speaking teachers |
In the German system: yes
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Language support for students not fluent in English and German |
There are programmes for German and English as a foreign language at different levels in all grade levels from 5 to 12. There is even an integrated language school in grades 5 and 6. |
Additional language classes offered by the school |
French, Latin, Spanish |
Max. number of students per class |
22 |
Average number of students per class |
14 |
Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
The lower and middle school usually employs 5-6 boarding and teaching assistants. |
Use of technology in the classroom |
Each classroom has a standardised media desk with a laptop, document camera and projector, each with AppleTV, Miracast and HDMI connectivity. |
Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
In everyday teaching, only face-to-face lessons take place. In exceptional cases, lessons can also take place online. All students and staff have an MS 365 account and can participate in video conferences via Teams if required. |
Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
At Schule Schloss Salem, Roman Catholic and Protestant religion are taught in grades 5-12. From grade 7, students can also choose Ethics. |
How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion? |
Every student is free to choose which religion or ethics lessons they would like to attend. |
External examinations or assessments available |
"Lernstand" grade 5
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Results in these examinations |
Student results can be viewed on our website. |
Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Homework is a classic method of repetition and practice in all year groups and systems. |
Approximate hours of homework given |
The processing time depends on the respective year group, on average approx. 1-2 hours per teaching day. |
Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
Further information on our alumni and their careers can be found on our website: www.schule-schloss-salem.de/en/admissions-scholarships/after-graduation/ |
Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
The whole area of academic support is coordinated by the relevant Head of Years 5-10, College Abi and College IB. |
Learning support offered |
We offer the following support services: Dyslexia and dyscalculia diagnostics and learning therapy, academic support teachers, tutoring, support courses in maths and German, school social workers to support students with intensive care needs (ADHD, ....) |
The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
Gifted students can participate in the following activities: performance-based courses and electives, participation in competitions, working groups for gifted students interested in specific topics. |
Student access to education psychologist |
In addition to an on-site infirmary accessible to all pupils, we also have 3 school social workers and 2 school psychologists. |
Entry evaluation for students |
Depending on individual educational backgrounds, yes. There are placement tests, admission exams and IB entrance exams, for instance. |
Brief description of entry evaluation required |
Students who wish to complete their Abitur at Salem need to have sufficient mastery of the German language, both written and oral, to be able to take part fully in Gymnasium-level instruction.
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Waiting list |
There might, depending on the time of application in the running year and on the age group. |
Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
Depending on capacities, an application for grades 5 to 11 is possible at any time of the year. An admission to grade 12 is not advisable but may be possible in individual cases. |
Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes, by educational law we are allowed to take in students until January, i. e. the first half-year of the German school year. |
School start time |
8 a.m. |
School finish time |
The end of the school day depends on the timetable. At Schule Schloss Salem we have a double period system:
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Supervised care before/after school |
As a boarding school we have 24/7 supervision. |
School bus service available |
Die Schule befindet sich an 3 räumlich getrennten Standorten. Alle für die Schüler notwendigen Ortswechsel werden durch Schulbusfahrten abgedeckt. |
School provided lunches |
At Salem, students receive three main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Students can also enjoy a morning snack and afternoon cake. |
Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes, Salem is pleased to give consideration to food intolerances or dietary restrictions when provided with the necessary information. |
Uniform required |
In grades 5-10, all students wear a school uniform. We distinguish between everyday school clothing and festive school clothing. |
Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Archery; Artisan Crafts; School Assembly Club, Bicycling; Bushcraft; Charity Activities, Creative Handicrafts; China Exchange Group; Chinese; Chess; Choir; Club House; Cooking; Cultural Excursions; Debating; Decorating by Season; Duke of Edinburgh Award; Hunting & Nature; Fencing, Film; GO; Golf, Judo, Library; Painting, Mathematics; Model United Nations; Musical, Nature Conservation; Orchestra; Charity Activities; Politics; Pre-Engineering; School Assembly Team; School Band; Snack Bar; Tennis; Theatre; Yearbook |
Sports activities included |
Basketball, ball sports (mixed), fitness, football, gym, hockey, individual sports, swimming, swimming pool, volleyball |
Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Baseball school team (boys), hockey school team (boys/girls), football school team (boys), volleyball (mixed) |
Facilities at the school |
Boarding facilities, school’s harbour with sailing boats and canoes, libraries |
Sports facilities at the school |
Salem has three sports halls, two modern sports fields, an artificial turf and a 400m running track. It maintains its own 25-metre indoor swimming pool and both the Middle School and the Upper School offer fitness rooms with a variety of cardiovascular and weight training machines and further CrossFit equipment. |
Grades/ages available for boarding |
From grade 5 to 12. |
Boarding facilities at the school |
Shared rooms (2-3, max. 4 students), students are accommodated in double year groups 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11, 12 in so-called “wings”, all wings have their own bathroom, kitchen, common room with sofas and TV |
Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
Schule Schloss Salem is a place with a unique character. Here, young people of all ages experience those things that make for lasting and viable community life. In other words, by living with one another in a group, students become acquainted with life in a multifaceted society. |
Teaching approach of the school |
A first-class education belongs to the core of Schule Schloss Salem. It is focussed not on rote learning and routine reproduction of information, but rather on developing an understanding of facts and their interrelationships – preferably through active involvement and empirical learning. One step at a time Salem students gain the ability to acquire knowledge autonomously and especially to apply sound principles in testing the plausibility of contradictory sources of information – a key competency for enlightened citizens in the digital world of the 21st century. |