Built in the 1950s Grundschule St. Nikolai has a fascinating history. Architect Gerhardt Laage designed this school. It was the first new building for a so-called Hilfsschule. This Hilfsschule Robert-Koch-Strasse replaced an older one on Eppendorfer Landstrasse. The building was thoughtfully designed. It included rooms for small classes. There was a low building design with a connection to the garden. Each classroom had a hallway for coats. A side room was available for group work and crafts. Separate bathrooms were included for each classroom.
In the 1970s the Hilfsschule became the Förderschule Robert-Koch-Strasse. It served children with learning disabilities until 2005. It was known as the Sonderschule in der Robert-Koch-Strasse. The school moved in 2005 to Sengelmannstrasse. It merged with another Förderschule. This school is now called the Robert-Koch-Förderschule.
Meanwhile a dedicated group of parents formed. They were members of the Hauptkirche St. Nikolai am Klosterstern. They wanted a new school near the church. They found the perfect partner in the Bugenhagenschulen. These schools were part of the Evangelische Stiftung Alsterdorf. The new school would be full-day. It would use reform pedagogy. It would be Christian and inclusive. The school’s founders wanted it to be both a place of learning and a place of life.
In September 2006 the first two classes opened. Integration remained a core value. On August 1 2011 the school became a public school. It became the Grundschule St. Nikolai. This new school had a long history. It incorporated the new concept of full-day schooling and inclusive education. This is a public school that continues to evolve. It works on its foundations and traditional values.
In the school year 2021-22 the school began renovations. They transitioned from a bound to an open full-day system. This is to meet the needs of children and parents. Grundschule St. Nikolai continues its rich history. It serves the Eppendorf community. It is a place of learning and growth for children.