Further News

The non-profit initiative 21future from Munich has launched a crowdfunding campaign called "Making 150 young people sustainably fit for the future". The aim is to raise funds to expand the work with children and young people who mostly come from disadvanted families. Since 2018, the 21future team has been organising one-week, project-based "learning journeys" dedicated to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals in middle and secondary schools. More schools would like to invite 21future to organise a learning journey than the organisation can currently afford, so further funding is being raised in this way. We support the work of 21future wholeheartedly and also financially. Our managing director Mrs Theresa Glasmacher knows Mr Tahir Hussain, 21future's founder and CEO, well since their joint time at the London School of Economics. Please consider making a donation, however small or large! You can find the campaign under betterplace.org or you can donate directly via PayPal, just click here.

Representatives from over thirty local state and independent schools were welcomed at Sidcot for our inaugural Education Conference on "Vaping and Drugs". Sidcot’s Education Conference forms part of a sustained safeguarding programme run by Sidcot School
Read more about the event here.

For the last months Goodnotes embarked on a research project to explore the implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in schools. The goal was to understand the profound technological shift that GenAI will bring to every aspect of life, learning, and work. Through interviews and discussions with various stakeholders, the company aimed to capture a holistic view of GenAI's role in education. The report stands out as it features contributions, reflections and ideas from a truly wide range of over 50 contributors, each offering a unique perspective on the challenges, trends, barriers, and solutions related to GenAI in school communities around the world.
To view the publication: Generative AI in Schools | Goodnotes Research

Mark Mortimer, Warden of Glenalmond College welcomed all new and returning students at the start of the new school year with a wonderful poem by Kahlil Gabran: On Children.

Students graduating from British boarding schools are well prepared to study at the best universities worldwide. In addition to the well-known US and British universities, many European universities are now attracting more and more outstanding school leavers. An early and excellent application is particularly important for these universities.

University expert David Hawkins, founder and CEO of The University Guys will give you an overview of the European university landscape (excluding the UK and Germany). He also has valuable tips and advice on how to make your application to these top European universities as effective as possible. A Q&A session is scheduled after David's presentation. 

To the webinar recording

While enjoying a good cup of Afternoon Tea, Theresa Glasmacher was recently a guest in the podcast "BRITPOD - England at its Best". This Podcast is hosted by TV producer and actor Klaus-Alexander Stecher together with Claus Beling, who in Germany is famous for making Rosamunde Pilcher's novels into successful TV films. The Podcast's title is "Tradition, values and top academic standards: England's elite boarding schools and the prestigious London School of English" and addresses many of the important questions parents have when considering a British boarding school for their child: when is the right time to go, which school is the right one, does my son or daughter need certain grades for the application, or how is mobile phone use dealt with in schools. You can listen to the interview here:  https://linktr.ee/britpod

Valerie only wanted to go to England for two or three terms in her Year 11. It turned out to be a three-year stay. This summer, Valerie graduated with honours from Dollar Academy and sent us her great feedback: "I liked so many things! The enthusiasm and passion of my teachers not only made the lessons more exciting, but also inspired me to try new things, such as debating and philosophy, where I learned a lot about argumentation, about thinkers, about history and politics. I also really liked the structure of  boarding life, such as the "Prep time" (study time from 6-8am), and I can now organise my own learning much better. I have really enjoyed living with lots of girls, including new best friends, and loved hearing new stories and perspectives from people all over the world: I now have best friends not only in Scotland, but also in Brazil, the Czech Republic, Armenia and Ukraine. The Boarding House has always felt like a safe place - a home away from home - as I have always been supported by my girls and my Houseparents - no matter if there were problems with my health, at school or at home in Germany. I have grown as a person from these experiences, becoming more independent and self-confident."

The Countdown to term start in September is on. To prepare for the English and broaden vocabulary, our schools especially recommend regular reading (at least 45 per day) of English books and texts. For some inspiration, check out Bromsgrove School's "Reading Lists" for different age groups.

• Lower Fourth Reading List
• Upper Fourth Reading List
• Fifth Form Reading List

On 2 August, the IB Organization published an important update for the recognition of the IB Diploma by German universities. From the exam session May 2025 onwards (i.e. for all students who are starting their IB course in September 2023), the strict requirement that students must have Maths or a Science at Higher Level in order to access German universities has been revoked. The new rule is that students must have Maths or a Science or a Language at Higher Level, which frees up much more options for students. The change is documented in the update guidelines by the German Kultusministerkonferenz which you can find here.

We started supporting the foundation Startchance in early 2023. Startchance aims to give children and young people a perspective for the future whose family background would not automatically offer this. The foundation is active at six schools in the south of Munich, where it offers around 160 children and young people two hours of homework supervision every Friday afternoon, followed by an hour of fun and sport for everyone. The support is provided by abount 80 coaches who are usually Year 11-13 pupils, university students or teachers.

The support offered is long-term and free of charge for the parents. The aim is to accompany the children and young people long term, often until they start their further studies or professional life. The administration costs are covered by a strong partner, all donations go entirely to the benefit of the pupils.

For more information, please visit the website: Stiftung Startchance - Every child deserves a chance.