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A daily routine that provides stability and room to grow
Boarding life at Schule Schloss Salem
At Salem, school and boarding life go hand in hand. Many of the experiences that shape students arise through everyday life together: during lessons, in the wings, through services and roles of responsibility, in sport, during free time and as part of the wider community. Boarding life provides structure and stability while creating opportunities for students to discover their strengths, take on responsibility and grow through experience.
Community
Around 95% of students live at the boarding school. As a result, Salem remains a lively place after lessons and at weekends.
Personal support
Mentors, houseparents and other pastoral staff support students in their daily lives in an attentive, personal and age-appropriate way.
Responsibility
Through services, roles of responsibility and daily life together, students learn that their actions matter and that they can help shape their community.
Boarding life at every age
Boarding life develops as students grow older. Younger students initially need clear guidance, close support and reliable structures. As they grow older, they are given greater freedom and, with it, greater responsibility.
At Salem, boarding life supports students appropriately at every stage: from a carefully supported start in Juniorenstufe and growing independence in Profilstufe to taking ownership of daily life in the Upper School.
In Juniorenstufe, the youngest students benefit from a clearly structured routine, trusted adults and a community in which they can settle in gradually. Each day follows a regular rhythm of lessons, meals, study periods, activities and time together in their boarding groups.
Mentors play a particularly important role. They support students in their daily lives, provide guidance, serve as trusted points of contact and maintain close communication with parents. Short distances and small wing communities create a familiar atmosphere in which students feel secure and gradually become more independent.
Alongside clear rules, there is plenty of room for friendships, play, physical activity and exploring individual interests. Even in Juniorenstufe, students can discover what they enjoy and where their strengths lie through the Muses programme, sport and STEM activities. Celebrations, Salem traditions and shared weekends further enrich life at Schloss Salem. Juniorenstufe is therefore a time in which students gain confidence, experience a strong sense of community and learn to trust their abilities.
In Profilstufe, students become noticeably more independent in their daily lives. Particularly during adolescence, Salem provides a reliable framework in which students can find guidance, take on responsibility and continue to develop their place within the community. They continue to live at Schloss Salem in small wing and boarding communities. Here, they learn to organise their daily lives with increasing independence, honour their commitments and take responsibility for living together.
The guilds and services are particularly formative during these Grades. From Grade 9 onwards, students contribute to areas such as the fire service, the Technical Relief Service, first aid, social service, conservation and the nautical service. They carry out specific tasks, learn the importance of commitment and discover that their contribution matters to both individuals and the wider community.
Another highlight is the Outward Bound expedition to Norway. Spending time outdoors, travelling as a group and often reaching their personal limits teaches students the value of perseverance, trust and teamwork. Work placements and exchange programmes also broaden their perspectives beyond Salem. Sport, music, theatre and extracurricular activities remain an integral part of daily life. With such a wide range of options, every student can find something that reflects their interests and talents.
In the Upper School, students live and learn at Salem International College, based at Schloss Spetzgart and Campus Härlen. Here, they prepare for the German Abitur or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, as well as for life beyond Salem.
As students move into the Upper School, they are given considerably more freedom. Many organise their daily lives with increasing independence, take responsibility for their learning and contribute actively to the community. At Salem, freedom always comes with responsibility: for oneself, for others and for life together on campus.
Cultural and societal topics also have an important place at Salem International College. Theatre and music projects, lectures, discussions and events such as the Spetzgarter Abendbrot all shape boarding life. Upper School is therefore more than the final stage of school. It is a time in which students develop a clearer sense of their own path, academically, personally and as members of an international community.
A typical day at boarding school
From morning runs, through lessons and communal meals, to study periods, duties and free time: daily life at the Salem boarding school follows a reliable routine. Whilst the daily schedule for Years 5 to 10 is clearly structured, pupils in the upper school take on increasing responsibility for managing their own time.
Schloss Salem
Students in Juniorenstufe and Profilstufe live at Schloss Salem. The film follows their daily routine, from lessons, shared meals and study periods to activities and life within the boarding community.
Salem International College
Upper School students live and learn at Salem International College, based at Schloss Spetzgart and Campus Härlen. The film provides an insight into daily life shaped by growing independence, academic ambition and responsibility.
Living arrangements, boarding groups and houses
How our students live
Students in Juniorenstufe and Profilstufe live at Schloss Salem. Upper School students live at Salem International College in Überlingen, at Schloss Spetzgart and Campus Härlen. This means that each boarding environment is tailored to the students’ age and stage of development.
Living at boarding school in Salem means living as part of a community. Students live in wing and boarding-group communities, share bedrooms, common rooms and bathrooms, and organise their daily lives together.
They are supported by mentors and other pastoral staff. The younger the students are, the closer this support is. As they grow older, they are given greater freedom and, with it, greater responsibility for their learning, for living together and for their shared environment.
Room for interests, talents and responsibility
An important part of the day begins after lessons. Students take on responsibilities, discover new interests, develop their talents and experience community in a wide variety of settings. Some activities are compulsory, while others are freely chosen. What they all share is that they enrich daily life and give students room to try new things.
Services
Through Salem’s services, students take on responsibility in areas such as first aid, the fire service, the Technical Relief Service, conservation and the nautical service.
Leran more
Outdoor Education
Spending time outdoors, testing personal limits and growing as a group are all central to Outdoor Education. Experiential learning outdoors has a long tradition at Salem.
Learn more
Democracy and participation
Students play a direct and active role in shaping life at Salem through positions of responsibility and committees, and as wing representatives, student helpers or school representatives.
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Sport
At Salem, sport provides balance, builds team spirit and offers a challenge. Whether through training, competitions or recreational activities, physical activity is an integral part of boarding life.
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Guilds
In the guilds, students work with head, heart and hand through practical, creative, technical and design-based activities.
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Art, music and theatre
Whether on stage, in the studio, in the choir, in an ensemble or at an exhibition, creativity takes many forms at Salem. It provides room for individual expression, concentration and creating something together.
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Well supported day to day
People who are present and attentive
Students living at boarding school need adults who are attentive and present in their daily lives. At Salem, mentors and other pastoral staff fulfil this role. They support students in an age-appropriate way, provide guidance and serve as important points of contact within the boarding community.
Clear structures are also in place for medical and psychological support. The KraQu is the first port of call when students are unwell or require medical assistance. Psychological counselling and preventative programmes are also available.
Our Child Protection Policy provides a clear and binding framework for safeguarding, vigilance and responsible conduct. This ensures that students know who they can turn to.
Medical care
The KraQu is the first port of call in the event of illness or for medical questions.
Safeguarding and counselling
Psychological counselling, preventative programmes and the Child Protection Policy provide additional security and support.
FAQ
Your questions, our answers
Boarding is not compulsory. At the same time, boarding life is a central part of Salem’s educational approach and, for many students, a defining feature of their time at school. This is why the great majority of our students choose to board.
School and boarding fees vary according to Grade and academic pathway. Additional costs also apply. Highly able students may be eligible for support through our own scholarship programme.
Further information:
Yes, students may go home at weekends. However, Salem does not have fixed home weekends. The boarding school remains lively and regularly offers sport, cultural activities, trips, creative activities and shared leisure time.
Salemer Wochenenden are the exception. On these weekends, all students remain at boarding school, compete in different sports and take part in outings with their wings.
Prospective students can get to know boarding life at Schule Schloss Salem through school visits, taster days or the Salem Future Skills Summit.
The International Summer Camps offer a particularly immersive experience. Students spend two weeks at boarding school and experience the community, daily routine and life at Salem.
The choice of boarding school should reflect a child’s interests, needs and strengths. Important questions include: What are the school’s priorities? How do students learn and live? What values shape the community?
At Schule Schloss Salem, personal development is at the heart of education: growing academically, taking on responsibility and finding one’s own path within an international community.
Further information: Why choose boarding school?
There is no traditional entrance examination at Schule Schloss Salem. However, an assessment test is carried out as part of the admissions process. It helps us assess the student’s academic starting point and identify the appropriate Grade.
Boarding school gives students many opportunities to grow beyond the classroom through community, personal support, responsibility, independence and a wide range of activities. At Schule Schloss Salem, these experiences are an integral part of daily life: in learning, in living together and in service to others.
Further information: Why choose boarding school?
Further questions and answers can be found in our Admissions FAQs.
