The aim of the agreement is to optimize the transition to vocational training or a type of secondary school. The principals of both schools as well as representatives of the school authorities and school inspectorate met in the newly designed conference room at the Robert-Franck-Schule in an informal living room atmosphere. "Our schools have maintained a lively exchange for many years," said Hartmut Meier, principal of the Gottlieb-Daimler-Realschule, in his speech. It was therefore only a logical step to now officially enter into an educational partnership, agreed Wolfgang Ulshöfer, Head of the Robert Franck School.
In addition to traditional elements such as taster days and information evenings, the two principals are particularly keen on two cornerstones of the partnership: digitalization and internationalization. Both schools are planning an IT room of the future, in which pupils will be introduced to new technologies such as virtual reality and robotics. In this context, both head teachers praise the great financial commitment of the school authorities - represented by the city and district of Ludwigsburg - to the digital equipment of the schools. "Without the active support of the district office, we would not have been able to successfully participate in the Ministry of Education's trial for the use of tablets in vocational schools, nor would all of our colleagues currently have a high-quality tablet for use in the classroom," Ulshöfer states.
The existing exchange is also to be intensified in the area of bilingual teaching, which both schools offer. "This gives us the opportunity to prepare our students specifically for working life in a globalized world," explains Ulshöfer, whose vocational school, which is sponsored by the district of Ludwigsburg, has been offering an international profile at the Wirtschaftsgymnasium for many years, in which a third of the business subject is taught in English.
"An educational partnership between the two schools creates great synergy effects," explains Ralf Litschke, Head of the Vocational Education Department at the Ludwigsburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce. "The Robert-Franck-Schule not only offers pupils at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Realschule a wide range of opportunities to follow on from the school, not only on the way to the Abitur, but also in the area of career guidance and vocational training," says school councillor Schwarzwälder-Kienzle. Daniel Wittmann, Head of the Education and Family Department of the City of Ludwigsburg, adds: "Ultimately, it's a win-win situation for everyone involved." Finally, Judith Woerner from the district administration office assures the contractual partners of the full support of the Ludwigsburg district in their joint projects.
However, the two principals agree that the pupils of the two schools in particular will benefit from this educational partnership.
