Education experts from Emmendingen in conversation with the leadership of the Alemannenschule Wutöschingen
Emmendingen/Wutöschingen. Kevin used to be a school failure. He had stomachaches every day. Math? A nightmare. Going to school? Pure horror! The teachers had given up on him. Then he transferred to the Alemannenschule in Wutöschingen – and ever since, Kevin looks forward to school. Even math is fun now.
A story told – admittedly – by a mother, but typical of what is observed daily at the Alemannenschule in Wutöschingen.
Wutöschingen is a small town in the southern Black Forest with around 7,000 residents. An aluminum plant, agriculture, a municipal administration shared with neighboring Eggingen – nothing extraordinary. And yet, the Alemannenschule stands out as a beacon in the educational landscape. Stefan Ruppaner and his teaching team have transformed the school. The results speak for themselves: multiple German School Awards, recognized as a European, Future, Erasmus, Reference, and Ambassador school. Ruppaner and his team have released the educational spirit from the bottle – and since then, the education world has been amazed. With courage, creativity, and perseverance, they have created a learning environment where both teachers and students enjoy teaching and learning, and where the future of education is already taking shape.
But what does everyday life at the Alemannenschule actually look like? A group of education experts from Emmendingen, Freiburg, and Stuttgart wanted to find out. Invited by the Association for Innovative School Development e.V. (VIS) and its chairperson Hanspeter Hauke, they made their way to Wutöschingen. They returned with a wealth of inspiration, ready to explore new paths in their own contexts.
First-Hand Insights
The education experts learned directly from Patricia Schmidt (deputy principal) and her colleague Isabell Budde why students at the Alemannenschule actually enjoy going to school, why their performance in the final exams and the Abitur is well above average, and why teachers can go home relaxed – without hours of correction and lesson planning awaiting them.
Learning in Open Spaces
Instead of traditional classrooms, Wutöschingen offers „learning landscapes“ with quiet zones, individual workstations, and open communication areas. Each student learns at their own pace, supported by learning guides. Traditional grades have been replaced with competency matrices, and every student has an iPad as standard equipment.
But the success of this concept isn’t due to technology alone. It’s primarily based on attitude: trust in the learners, clear rules, and a team working in unison. Teaching hours are converted into a 35-hour workweek. During this time, teachers act as learning coaches, organizing their work, grading, preparing lessons, collaborating with colleagues, and most importantly, supporting students in learning successfully.
More Courage, Fewer Excuses
The Alemannenschule is powerful proof that change is possible. But transformation requires more than modern technology and open architecture. More than individual workspaces and quality equipment. It requires people willing to rethink teaching, question their own beliefs, and have the courage to let go and place trust in students. In Wutöschingen, students follow their own learning paths within a framework of clear rules and individualized support. And they speak up when they need help.
A Clear Message
The message from Wutöschingen is clear: school can be different – if we want it to be. While the VIS delegation may have initially arrived with skepticism or reservations, these quickly dissolved thanks to the open and compelling exchange with the school’s leadership. In the end, the education experts were not only impressed but also motivated to incorporate what they had seen into their own work and begin their journey toward an innovative school culture in their own institutions.
