Stephen Hawking School in Neckargemünd Named "Schoolyard of the Future 2015"

The Stephen Hawking School in Neckargemünd has been awarded the title "Schoolyard of the Future 2015", alongside nine other schools selected from 536 applicants. The competition was organized by the "Lebendige Stadt" Foundation and the German Environmental Aid (Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. - DUH).

The award recognizes the school's transformation of its primary schoolyard into a nature-oriented and accessible space. Previously, the yard had limited usability due to a slope and insufficient space for play, particularly for students using wheelchairs. The redesigned yard now offers ample opportunities for all children, featuring a barrier-free path, various nooks for retreat, a treehouse, climbing structures, and a water play area.

"Before the renovation, we had much less space, which led to constant conflicts. Today, the children find so many activities that they quickly spread out across the entire area and always find something to do. They have been much calmer and more balanced since then, and conflicts have become rare," reported school principal Thomas Bohnert.

Jurymember Gerhard Fuchs praised the school's ability to cater to the specific needs of its student body. "Here, children with and without mobility impairments can fully enjoy themselves! That convinced us as a jury," he stated. Silke Wissel, project manager at DUH, highlighted the impressive achievement in optimizing limited space and the successful involvement of children in the planning and maintenance of the yard. The schoolyard is also accessible to neighborhood children outside of school hours.