The German School Award Schools and the Law of Empowerment
Three schools, three types of school, one shared pattern. The main prize winners of the German School Award from 2023 to 2025 hand over responsibility, to children and to teams.
On 29 September 2026, the German School Award went to the Bertha-von-Suttner-Schule in Mörfelden-Walldorf; there is a separate article on that. The award has been presented since 2006 by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Heidehof Stiftung. The main prize is endowed with 100,000 euros. “Responsibility” is one of the six quality areas by which the jury makes its judgement. A look at the three main prize winners before that shows the Law of Empowerment in everyday school life.
From a golden point at the top three golden lines lead to three circles in which white dots spread out freely – like the three German School Award winners handing responsibility to children and teams.
01
Erlangen 2023: Learning without fear of mistakes
Situation
On 12 October 2023, the Mittelschule Eichendorffschule, a secondary school in Erlangen, received the main prize. Around 400 young people attend it. From year 7 onwards, they work on their own tasks in learning offices; in years 5 and 6, in a digitally supported mathematics room. Jury spokesman Thorsten Bohl praised the school for taking away the young people’s fear of mistakes.
Link to the law
Those who hand over responsibility must allow mistakes. Without that permission, empowerment remains a word, because nobody dares to try anything. Leaders therefore first examine how they themselves react to mistakes.
02
Bonn 2024: The timetable belongs to the children
Situation
On 8 October 2024, the Siebengebirgsschule in Bonn won, a special needs school with 265 children and young people. It has abolished traditional whole-class teaching. The children sign in each morning via a learning platform and follow a work plan of their own. Bohl said: “The Siebengebirgsschule takes in children whom mainstream schools cannot cope with.”
Link to the law
Empowerment begins with trust in people’s abilities, especially those in whom others have little trust. The school gives children responsibility for their learning and puts support at their side. Authority and support belong together.
03
Berlin 2025: More freedom step by step
Situation
On 30 September 2025, the main prize went to the Maria-Leo-Grundschule, a primary school in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg. It was founded in 2018 with 40 children and has 385 today. Learning takes place in learning houses with open rooms. A tiered system called “Level-Up” gives the children more independence bit by bit.
Link to the law
Responsibility must be able to grow. Those who hand over everything at once overwhelm people. Those who build steps make progress visible. This also applies to new employees: clear steps, and real decisions at every step.
04
Teams instead of lone fighters
Situation
In Berlin, multi-professional teams accompany the children from year 1 to year 6. The jury emphasised that good teaching comes above all from committed teams and a well-thought-out concept. In Bonn, the teachers accompany the children individually instead of standing in front of the class.
Link to addition
School leaders who give authority also change the role of the adults. Teachers become companions who make others strong. The value a leadership team adds shows in how many people in the building shape things themselves.
Key takeaways
Key lessons
01
Hand over responsibility and allow mistakes as you do so.
02
Trust especially those in whom little trust is placed.
03
Build steps on which independence can grow.
04
Put support at the side of everyone you give authority to.
05
Delegate tasks to teams, not only to individuals.
Summary
A secondary school, a special needs school and a primary school won the main prize three years in a row. All three have rebuilt their teaching so that children steer their own learning. All three back this up with structure, support and teamwork. Here, empowerment is not an add-on but the concept.
