The University School will be one of two public schools in Dresden where students of all ages and levels will learn together (known as a Gemeinschaftsschule in German). The majority of Dresden’s City Council voted in favor of this on November 25, 2021. The change is anticipated to be implemented at the beginning of the 2022/2023 school year. Starting then, students of the University School will learn together from the 1^st to the 12^th grade. During their virtual open day on January 22, 2022, the school community will inform the public about the changes this remarkable leap forward will bring for the pilot school – the only project of its kind in Germany.

With longer joint learning, children are not separated after the fourth grade and will have much longer to find their unique learning path. Thus, the recommendation for a child’s future secondary education (vocational school [Realschule] or high school for preparation for university [Gymnasium]) is removed. This means the students can learn under one roof at their different levels – above all in project work. Grades 4 to 6 allow the students enough time to consolidate the direction their learning path will take. Grades 11 and 12 make up the upper secondary level when students prepare for university qualification exams.

Another milestone for this forward-thinking school

Following the University School Dresden’s establishment in 2019, competency-based learning with individual learning feedback starting in 2020, and the launch of the Youth School in 2021, the establishment of a joint-learning Gemeinschaftsschule is another important milestone. This school is operated by the local authorities in Saxony. The children and young people learn with a strong emphasis on practical life and work application, allowing them to gain skills in communication and experience diversity, which puts them in good stead for their future working life.

At the University School Dresden pilot project, innovative forms of learning, teaching and coexistence are developed, explored, and scientifically evaluated. It provides the opportunity both to envision the school of the future and to practically test novel concepts based on an academic foundation. Furthermore, the school is directly linked to the teacher training program at TU Dresden. “At the University School, education specialists and school directors are rethinking and, if necessary, redeveloping fundamental processes and procedures. For example, records of the student’s individual learning paths are kept in the school’s own learning management software. This software allows us to map out each individual student’s learning pathway developments. The documentation also serves as a basis for the regular development discussions as well as the learning reports that we produce twice a year,” explains Project Head Anke Langner, Chair of Education / Inclusive Education at TU Dresden.

2 becomes 1 – Making things easier for the school management   

When the University School Dresden first opened as a primary and secondary school with a growth target of up to 800 students, the school form allowing for the joint learning of all students (Gemeinschaftsschule) was not yet an option in Saxony. There was a controversial discussion in the City Council regarding the Saxon School Act's stipulation that there must be four classes in grades 5 to 10 at any Gemeinschaftsschule. As a result, the number of students at the University School Dresden will increase to approximately 1,000 pupils. This means the school needs more space to house all the pupils, but also offers more secondary education places in the south of Dresden. The school is open to all residents of Dresden and its surroundings, while at the same time there is no obligation for local residents in the south of Dresden to attend it, according to Saxony’s regulations regarding Gemeinschaftsschule. Elementary school principal Maxi Heß is also leading the secondary education at the school on an interim basis. Looking ahead to the future of the school, she said, “Merging the primary school and high school into one administrative unit will make the day-to-day running of our school, which is, in essence, already a Gemeinschaftsschule, a lot easier. For example, resource planning will be a lot easier. Back in March, all stakeholders at the school conference already expressed their support for this change. The school community is looking forward to making this move together.”

About the University School Dresden

The University School Dresden is a joint project of the City of Dresden and Technische Universität Dresden. It is a public primary and secondary school funded by the city, where innovative teaching and learning formats are tested under academic supervision. Furthermore, it serves as a training school for current and future teachers at TU Dresden.

Read more about TU Dresden’s research project: https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/unischule
Read more about the University School Dresden: http://universitaetsschule.org

You can find insights into everyday school life and the research project on various social media channels under @unischuleTUD. Follow the links to the University School Dresden on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube und LinkedIn.

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