Groundbreaking ceremony for the Rudolf Dießel School: More space for everyone!

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Rudolf Dießel School: More space for everyone!

June 16, 2025 was a memorable day for the Rudolf Dießel School in Königslutter am Elm. The groundbreaking ceremony for the extension was held, an important step towards meeting the increasing space requirements at this special school with a focus on intellectual development. District Administrator Gerhard Radeck carried out the symbolic act and thereby underlined the importance of the new premises.

The extension will include a total of four classrooms, four group rooms, gender-appropriate toilet facilities, as well as a caretaker and technical room. Particular attention is paid to sustainable materials, which are intended to ensure pure dismantling. In addition, a photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof to provide environmentally friendly energy. This initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to make the school barrier-free and modern. With a cost of around 2.9 million euros and a planned completion within a year, the Rudolf Dießel School will respond to the increasing number of students, which will increase from 21 to 25 classes next year. This is also confirmed by school principal Alke Freese, who emphasizes the urgent need for this expansion. According to regionalheute.de, this is an important step in meeting the requirements for integrative teaching.

The Rudolf Dießel School at a glance

The Rudolf Dießel School has established itself as an all-day school and offers numerous activities that go far beyond traditional learning. These include Christmas concerts, which take place under the musical direction of Bernd Giere and Andreas Wittlake, as well as a comprehensive range of events such as the popular star market. Here the students were not only able to express their creativity, but also take part in the Lebenshilfe bazaar in Helmstedt, where they sold home-made products and school honey. Such initiatives not only promote a sense of community, but also the social integration of students, which is an important aspect of the school philosophy. Information about this can be found on the Rudolf Dießel School website.

The Rudolf Dießel School not only plays an important role locally, but is also part of a larger trend in Germany, where the expansion of inclusive school systems is currently being pushed forward. Despite slow progress in implementing the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, statistics show that the exclusion rate has fallen from 4.8% in 2008/09 to 4.2% in 2022/23. Nevertheless, differences between the federal states can be seen, and two separate school systems often continue to exist: general schools and special schools. The path to an inclusive school system remains challenging, as the Bertelsmann Foundation states on its website.

With the new premises, the Rudolf Dießel School not only meets the current needs of its students, but also sets an example for future-oriented and inclusive education in the region. While the school continues to create a variety of leisure and learning opportunities, the expansion is a step in the right direction for everyone involved.