Landschulheim am Solling Private school

• Institution type: private school
• Type of studying: mixed
• Educational programs: grammar classes (5-12, Abitur)
• The total number of students: 250 people, 200 of them on boarding school (5-10% are foreign students)
• The age of students: 10-17 years
• Location: Holzminden, Lower Saxony, Germany
• Language of instruction: German.

"School on the Mountains" - namely the name of the private school Landschulheim am Solling - is located in Lower Saxony. The Zolling mountain chain, which gave the name to the institution, is the second highest in the country (after Harz): it is part of a huge nature reserve that provides children with studying not only in classrooms, but also far beyond them. You can reach the beautiful Lake Chiemsee in just 5 minutes, the nearest town is Kiming - 10 minutes drive, Munich Airport takes about an hour and a half, and Salzburg Airport - 45 minutes.

Landschulheim am Solling was founded in 1909 thanks to the union of four professional, progressive educators, wishing to create a studying center with a humanistic approach, to create a real home for children from different parts of the country and the world. The building, which now are houses the institution, was originally a Roman manor, rebuilt into a hotel, then confiscated in favour of US invaders after the war, and already in 1955 it was purchased by the Association of Bavarian Schools and acquired its current appointment. In 1957 new residences and a canteen were built, in 1962-1964 there were already about 16 studying places, new sports grounds and a theater appeared. Today the school continues to expand, to update and modernize: the assembly hall was recently renovated and equipped.

Initially, the composition of the students was only 18 people, but in just two years their number increased to 100 and continued to grow gradually. Regardless of the class and year, all children study in small groups (8-12 people): this allows the teacher to show great care and participation, to closely monitor the progress of each student and possible difficulties, if necessary, quickly adjust the curriculum. The teaching staff includes more than 100 highly qualified specialists, the majority also lives on campus. The school day (classes) begin on weekdays at 8:15, 4-7 lessons daily (both before and after lunch), in addition, classes are provided on Saturdays.

Landschulheim am Solling takes an active part in the work of many world organizations:

• THIMUN;
• UNESCO;
• HSHS;
• "Model United Nations "(annually in The Hague);
• CoR.

From the 5th to the 13th grade, not only academic fundamentals and knowledge are laid, but also valuable social skills, useful personal qualities: responsibility, ability to support and sympathize, to be attentive, tolerant, to show personal initiative, creatively approach the solution of any problem. Despite adherence to the old educational traditions, many of which are more than a hundred years old, the institution is boldly keeping pace with the times, introducing modern technologies, equipment of author's and innovative methods and teaching systems into the educational process.

• The junior level - students of grades 5-6 live in a separate residence next to teachers and educators, carefully records their progress and involvement in school life.
• Middle classes (7th- 10) begin to fill the curriculum with new core subjects that help students to better understand their strengths and abilities, more accurately choose future specialization, profession, university and faculty. In addition to the compulsory, key subjects, lessons of art, politics and economics are provided. Up to grade 10, homework is done under the supervision of a teacher who is ready to help if there is a problem.
• High school students (grades 11-13), as a rule, have already decided on their personal academic profile. For them, highly specialized subjects such as astrophysics, learning skills, analytical thinking, rhetoric, writing texts are available. Typically, the educational course is a seminar in small groups of up to 5 people. At the end, exams for the Abitur certificate are taken.

Landschulheim am Solling maintains partnerships with colleagues around the world, constantly arranges student exchanges - from the most popular countries it can be noted:

• China;
• Mexico;
• Tenerife;
• Russia;
• Canada;
• Australia;
• Peru;
• France;
• United States.

Each residence of Landschulheim am Solling takes 8-12 people: high school students occupy private bedrooms, the rest students - double rooms (there are also four-bed rooms). Together with students, on one floor the curator-educator lives: he/she is responsible for the safety of students, monitors the observance of order, cleanliness and discipline, is ready to help in solving any domestic or administrative issues. When resettlement necessarily takes into account the gender principle - boys and girls live separately from each other.

The balanced, high-grade food under the scheme of the full boarding house is organized.

Subject list: computer techologies, design, geography, history, maths, music, physical education, Religious studies
Activity list: aerobics, Athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, Beach volleyball, dancing, diving, field hockey, handball, horseback riding, rock climbing, rowing, rugby, swimming, volleyball,  Mountain bike

An extra-curricular activity and electives are an important part of the educational process: every day for this purpose time is allocated from 14:30 to 18:45. You can practice different kinds of sports:

• Horseback riding (there is a school and an arena);
• Bicycle;
• Swimming;
• Golf;
• Choreography;
• Football;
• Badminton;
• Visit studios and interest clubs, creative and musical workshops (theater and music, handicrafts, dances).

Thanks to the proximity of Lake Chiemsee, students have the opportunity to learn sailing, windsurfing, swimming and beach volleyball. The institution closely cooperates with many local sports clubs and organizations, invites professional instructors.

Almost every weekend there are various trips and excursions, visits to museums and art galleries, to theaters, cinema, exhibitions and performances. There is also time for relaxed rest and leisure with friends, walks in the park, hobbies.

Many students from Landschulheim am Solling take part in local theatrical productions (only in 2015, two performances and a musical were staged): they play and sing on the stage, make costumes and scenery, control the light and sound during the performance. The level is quite high: even local periodicals have noted the excellent quality of school productions.

No less popular are the lessons in the wind instruments studio: here you can learn to play the trumpet, saxophone, flute or clarinet, trombone. Students play in symphony orchestras or variety, jazz ensembles and bands, arrange interesting performances and concerts.

Every week (Monday, immediately after breakfast), a large general school meeting is held to discuss important topics, events and news. On Thursday and Sunday after dinner, the children will be presented with a cultural program of various subjects and focus; In the spring, parents' days and weekends are arranged, in October - the evening of the meeting of the graduates.

Upon request and prior request, a meeting and seeing-off at the selected airport is arranged.

• Excellent living conditions (boarding house);
• Successful territorial location: the proximity of large cities is combined with a quiet, safe, picturesque area;
• Wide opportunities for sports, recreation, leisure and creativity;
• The proximity of major international airports: it facilitates travel, excursions and transfer;
• Strong academic directions: linguistic, scientific, technological and economic.

A picturesque, well-groomed campus with an area of ​​more than 50 hectares includes everything you need for teaching, living and relaxing. There is excellent sports infrastructure - numerous sports fields, tennis courts, own school and riding arena.

Some services are not included in tuition fee and paid additionally:

• Registration fee;
• Annual medical insurance;
• Tuition fee;
• Personal, pocket money, additional costs (for example, individual lessons or excursions).

Extras:

• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 150 EUR
• Deposit for a course/programme 3000 EUR
• Medical insurance 25 EUR
• Pocket money 2000 EUR

In order to enter Landschulheim am Solling, you should take care in advance of obtaining a student visa and collecting the necessary documents (at least one month in advance). It will be necessary to provide a report card with grades from the previous place of study (the average score is not lower than the average), and also to demonstrate a sufficiently high level of the German language (from B2).

If the level of the German language or academic knowledge is insufficient, the child is encouraged to take an effective preparatory course at the Humboldt Institutions (Lindenberg or Bad Schussenried). In just 6 months you can raise the language level practically from scratch to the required B2 thanks to qualified teachers, balanced curriculums and full immersion in the language and cultural environment of Germany.

In order to become a candidate for enrollment in Landschulheim am Solling, the entrant will be required to provide the admission committee with the following information:

• Full name, date of birth;
• School report card with grades, translated into German or English;
• Personal hobbies, interests, success certificates in academic, creative activity;
• Letters of recommendation from previous teachers translated into English or German;
• Personal written motivation letter (in English or German).

It is also required to:

• Indicate (you can approximately) the annual or monthly budget for studying;
• Select the priority region for obtaining an education in Germany.

After receiving all the necessary information, the advisory council begins selecting a school for the student: assesses its opportunities and requests, contacts schools identified as priority, and reveals the number of seats available and the possibility of admission.

Usually, international students begin the process of studying in Germany with the Humboldt-Institute language courses (the German academic program for the year): in this case, the selected secondary schools receive full reports on the student's successes and achievements, his behavior in the classroom, the degree of involvement in school extra-curricular activities. After the preparatory language course is completed and all formalities are settled, the student goes for basic studying to the boarding school he has chosen and the advice board.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision