plus-KULTUR

at Schule Schloss Salem

plus-KULTUR broadens the educational offering at Schule Schloss Salem through a specialised excellence track in the cultural and humanities disciplines. As a founding member, Schule Schloss Salem launched the initiative together with Stiftung Louisenlund, Sächsisches Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra and Internat Solling.

The programme creates space for deeper reflection, nuanced dialogue and engagement with societal questions that extend beyond the regular curriculum. Embedded in boarding school life and learning, plus-KULTUR combines academic rigour with personal development and responsibility within the community.

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What is plus-KULTUR?

plus-KULTUR is an excellence track in the cultural and humanities disciplines, closely aligned with the educational ethos of Schule Schloss Salem. As a founding member of the initiative, the school developed plus-KULTUR in collaboration with other boarding schools and has actively shaped it from the outset. The nationwide programme is designed for particularly motivated and intellectually curious pupils, complementing the regular curriculum with advanced humanities-focused opportunities.

In its orientation, plus-KULTUR follows the example of plus-MINT, which has already established itself as an excellence programme in the sciences. plus-KULTUR serves as its humanities counterpart, with a clear focus on social, historical, political and philosophical questions, as well as on the development of critical judgement and the ability to engage in thoughtful discourse. Academic excellence, personal growth and communal boarding school life are closely interwoven.

The programme builds on the Salem principle of educating the head, the heart and the hand. Pupils take responsibility, contribute actively to the community and further develop their individual strengths through exchange with others.

plus-KULTUR in Salem – at a Glance

Year groups: Year 10 through to A-levels
Focus: Cultural and humanities disciplines
Subjects include: History, Politics, Philosophy, Ethics, Religious Studies, Geography and the Arts

Learning Formats Within plus-KULTUR

plus-KULTUR promotes distinctive learning formats that encourage in-depth thinking, independent study and meaningful discussion. Pupils work in small groups, engaging intensively with complex questions in an environment that gives them the space to do so.

Core formats include:

ThinkLabs, in which social and cultural themes are analysed and discussed collaboratively
Socratic seminars, placing careful reading, attentive listening and rigorous argumentation at the centre
Essay and writing workshops to develop precise and reflective expression
Discussion and debate formats that strengthen rhetorical skills and the formation of well-founded opinions
Project-based work, including collaboration with external partners from the fields of culture, media and academia

Cultural Education

A Foundation for Orientation and Responsibility

plus-KULTUR is aimed at pupils who are willing to engage in depth with cultural and societal questions and to integrate additional academic opportunities into their daily school life.

Who is plus-KULTUR for?

plus-KULTUR is designed for pupils with a particular interest in cultural, social and humanities-related issues who are prepared to explore these subjects intensively beyond the regular curriculum.

It is intended for young people who enjoy reading, writing and debating, who think independently and are keen to reflect on different perspectives. At the same time, the programme is not solely aimed at those who are especially outspoken; it equally welcomes pupils who prefer to develop their ideas thoughtfully and in their own time.

Organisation and Integration

Participation in plus-KULTUR is fully integrated into both school and boarding life. Work takes place in small learning groups and is supported by experienced teachers as well as external specialists.

A structured framework, individual guidance and a high academic standard provide the foundation for focused study and in-depth engagement.

Admission to the plus-KULTUR Track

Admission to the plus-KULTUR track is based on a separate selection process, conducted in close cooperation between the participating schools and plus-KULTUR. The aim is to identify pupils who demonstrate genuine interest, motivation and intellectual openness towards questions in the cultural and humanities disciplines.

Applications are submitted centrally via plus-KULTUR. Throughout the entire process, interested families receive guidance and support from both plus-KULTUR and Schule Schloss Salem. Further information on the application procedure and selection criteria can be found on the plus-KULTUR website.

Online Information Event

An Insight into Schule Schloss Salem

Our online information sessions provide an overview of Schule Schloss Salem in approximately 45 minutes, covering its educational philosophy, academic programmes and life at the boarding school. They are intended for families who are generally interested in admission to Schule Schloss Salem.

For those interested in plus-KULTUR, these events offer an excellent opportunity to become familiar with Schule Schloss Salem as both a place of learning and of living.