How about a school with a past stretching back to 1835? That’s the Tellkampfschule. This school is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a living testament to Hanover’s educational heritage.
The Tellkampfschule began as a higher citizen school. Adolf Tellkampf founded it. He envisioned a place where practical skills met academic rigor.
Initially, the school resided in a citizen’s house at Aegidientorplatz. Space quickly became an issue. In 1854, the Tellkampfschule moved. It shared a newly built house with the Ratsgymnasium. Both schools were located at Aegi.
Tragedy struck during the air raids of 1943. The school building was destroyed. Undeterred, lessons resumed in the damaged Wilhelm-Raabe-Schule in 1945. From 1946 to 1950, the Tellkampfschule shared space with other schools at Volksschule Pfalzstraße.
Between 1950 and 1955, the Bismarckschule took in the Tellkampfschule. Students attended classes in shifts. Every available space was used. Even the attic became a classroom.
The growing Südstadt area strained the Bismarckschule’s capacity. In 1954, the Schillerschule was created. The Tellkampfschule had already been using a classroom in the Volksschule Altenbekener Damm.
In 1936, the school was named after its founder Adolf Tellkampf. There was an attempt to rename it Hermann Göring School. This attempt was successfully resisted.
The current Tellkampfschule building was constructed in 1956. Werner Dierschke and Rudolf Christfreund designed it. Today, it stands as a prime example of 1950s architecture in Hanover. It’s even a protected monument. The school is located near the Maschsee.
Inside the Tellkampfschule, you can find the Tellkampf bust. Friedrich Adolf Sötbier, a former student, created it in 1950. It commemorates the school’s 175th anniversary. The bust stands proudly in the foyer.
The Tellkampfschule has evolved into a modern gymnasium. It’s a full-day school with diverse working groups. The school promotes international exchange programs. These programs include European schools and schools in the USA.
In 2003, the Tellkampfschule became Hanover’s first Europaschule. In 2005, it received the title “School without Racism – School with Courage”. Since 2016, it has been an official environmental school.
The Tellkampfschule also has a rowing club and a school country home. In 2023, there were about 1000 students and about 75 teachers. Since 2019, the Tellkampfschule has been an inclusive school. Currently, the Tellkampfschule hosts 5 inclusion students. Accordingly, several differentiation rooms have been set up in the school. Since 2021, the Tellkampfschule has been part of the Future School model project.
Many notable figures have walked its halls. This includes Heinz Erhardt. He was a comedian and poet. Karl Otto Pöhl was another notable figure. He served as President of the Deutsche Bundesbank. Steffen Seibert also attended the Tellkampfschule. He was a journalist and government spokesman.
The Tellkampfschule stands as a symbol of Hanover’s commitment to education. It embraces tradition. It also embraces progress. It’s a school with a rich history. It continues to shape future generations.