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Aloisiuskolleg

Instructs in German

Ages 10 - 18 years

Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)

The Aloisiuskolleg Bonn is a Jesuit, co-educational gymnasium operating as an Externat within the Ignatian network. The school follows a Catholic, science‑oriented curriculum designed to prepare students for the Abitur from grade 9 to Q2, with regular curricular review and cross‑disciplinary collaboration. English begins in grade 5, Latin from grade 5 or 7, and from grade 9 students choose French or Ancient Greek, with Italian or French in upper grades. The Lernhaus learning house strengthens students' development through targeted workshops and self‑assessment. The campus features a 16,000‑volume library with a self‑learning center, a mandatory iPad program from grade 7, and extensive facilities for sport, arts, and study. AKO‑Forum provides after‑school courses, creative ensembles, and holiday programs, while Externat supervision supports study and leisure after classes. Internationally, the school participates in the European Youth Exchange Project with Jesuit partners in Gent, Turin, and Lecco, conducted in English for a broader outlook.

Location

The Aloisiuskolleg is located in Bonn, Germany. Address: Elisabethstr. 18, 53177 Bonn. It is part of the Ignatianische Netzwerkschule and operates in the Bonn-Bad Godesberg area with the AKO-Forum.

Stages

Gymnasium (secondary school). It operates with Externat (after-school care) and the AKO-Forum program.

Type

Co-educational Jesuit college (Kolleg) with Externat.

Additional learning support

Individualized support for students.

Country affiliation

Germany

Religious affiliation

Catholic (Jesuit)

School day structure

The school day includes standard classes, with after-school care (Externat) available and the AKO-Forum program offering afternoon activities.

Mandatory tuition / Schulgeld
- No mandatory school tuition (kein Schulgeld) is charged for attendance at the Aloisiuskolleg.

Voluntary parental contribution (Elternbeitrag)
- The school requests a voluntary monthly parental contribution (Elternbeitrag) to help cover the school's operating gap. The standard, currently applied monthly contribution schedule is:
- First child: EUR 130 per month.
- Second child: EUR 110 per month.
- Third child: EUR 90 per month.
- Each additional child: EUR 70 per month.
- Contributions are typically collected by SEPA direct debit using a SEPA-Lastschriftmandat labeled “monatlicher Elternbeitrag.” You will receive an annual receipt for voluntary parental contributions.

Externat (after-school care) fees — 2026/27
- Participation in the Externat (Hausaufgaben-, Lern- und Freizeitbetreuung) is fee-based and arranged by school-year contract. For the school year 2026/2027 the participation fees are:
- Grades 5–7: EUR 180 per month (EUR 540 per quarter).
- Grade 8: EUR 160 per month (EUR 480 per quarter).
- Grade 9: EUR 130 per month (EUR 390 per quarter).
- In addition, families participating in the Externat are asked to contribute EUR 10 per month to a Solidarfonds (solidarity fund) to support (partial) Externat scholarships.

Mensa (school lunch) fees and options
- Two lunch options are offered:
- Mensa Abo (half‑year subscription): EUR 110 per month (EUR 660 per school year). Billing is by invoice.
- Einzelbestellung (single prepaid menu): EUR 6.95 per meal (includes salad, dessert and drink); late bookings incur an additional surcharge of EUR 0.85. Single orders are placed via the online ordering portal.
- The Mensa is operated cashless using the school's AKO payment system (AKO‑Karte / iNET account).

Other recurring or one-off costs
- Digital device requirement: From Grade 7 an iPad is required for lessons and must be acquired via the school's procurement partner (Converge Germany). Devices for Grades 5–6 are provided as school loan units; from the middle school onward the device cost is parent‑financed and ordered through the school portal. Required accessories (stylus and protective keyboard case) must be purchased as part of the package. Annual software costs for school use are covered by the school/träger.
- AKO Wear (optional school clothing/merchandise) has set prices for items; examples include: T‑shirts EUR 17, Poloshirts EUR 24, Hoodies EUR 30, Joggers EUR 38. Payment for AKO Wear can be handled cashless via the AKO card / iNET account or as specified at order.
- Course or program fees: Certain extracurricular courses or AKO‑Forum offers and some Lernhaus/Forum activities are fee‑based and billed per course or term. Course fees vary by offering.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Voluntary parental contributions are collected monthly by SEPA direct debit under a monthly mandate; an annual receipt is issued for paid contributions. SEPA direct debit provides the usual banking return/chargeback rights under SEPA rules.
- Externat and Mensa billing follow a quarterly invoicing rhythm: invoices are issued in September (for Aug–Oct), December (for Nov–Jan), March (for Feb–Apr) and June (for May–July). Externat invoices may be paid by SEPA direct debit, by bank transfer, or by standing order as indicated on the contract. Mid‑year admissions to Externat are charged pro‑rata from the month of entry.
- The school's finance pages and the Externat/Mensa contracts note that the school reserves the right to adjust participation fees at the start of a new school year; in such cases parents are normally entitled to a specified short period right to terminate the relevant contract.

Refunds, cancellations and contractual notes
- Externat: Participation is normally binding for a school year and automatically renews unless timely notice is given. Compulsory absences or approved leaves do not entitle to fee reductions. Mid‑year joins are calculated pro‑rata. The Externat contract contains the precise termination deadlines and conditions.
- Mensa: The Mensa Abo can be cancelled under the conditions in the Mensa contract (notice periods are specified there); single meal orders can be cancelled on the ordering portal (stornierung) up to the portal's stated deadline (normally by 09:00 on the day).
- Voluntary parental contributions: payments are collected monthly by SEPA; the SEPA mandate includes the standard right to request a refund through the banking system within the timeframes established by SEPA rules. The school issues annual receipts for parental contributions. For families unable to pay, confidential hardship arrangements and scholarship discussions can be arranged with the school's management.

Accepted payment methods and account details
- SEPA direct debit (Lastschrift) is the standard collection method for parental contributions, Externat and Mensa Abo. SEPA mandate forms are used for these collections.
- Cashless on‑site payments for the Mensa and kiosk are made via the AKO‑Karte / iNET account.
- Bank transfers to the school/träger accounts are accepted for specific items (Externat, Mensa, donations and project payments). Relevant IBANs are published with the school's finance information and on specific contract forms.

Practical notes for parents
- The school operates with a combination of state subsidy, church support and voluntary parental contributions; mandatory attendance carries no statutory tuition charge, but a range of participation fees exists for services (Externat, Mensa, device procurement, optional courses). SEPA mandates and the relevant contract forms state exact payment timing, cancellation windows and where pro‑rata charges apply.

Boarding Arrangements

The school has no boarding. Externat (after-school care) is offered from 12:30 to 17:00, with a daily lunch in the Mensa and learning support from 14:00.

Food Options

Lunch is available daily in the Mensa.

Governance and Ownership

The school is governed by Ignatianische Schulträger Aloisiuskolleg Bonn gGmbH (ISAB), which has held trusteeship since 1 July 2024. ISAB handles the school's commercial administration, with Ignatianische Schulstiftung as shareholder. The former Aloisiuskolleg gGmbH remains connected as landlord of the buildings and supports ongoing operations.

Curriculum

The Aloisiuskolleg Bonn uses a gymnasial, science‑oriented curriculum aligned with the methodologies of the corresponding university disciplines. The school treats teaching as the core of schooling and aims to activate learning within a self‑directed, reflective Ignatian framework. Curricula are regularly reviewed and cross‑disciplinary collaboration is encouraged; the school provides appropriate media and operates with a catalog of criteria for good teaching, supported by collegial observation and student feedback. The language sequence starts with English from grade 5, Latin offered from grade 5 or 7, and from grade 9 French or Ancient Greek as a further language; in the upper grades Italian or French are introduced as new languages. From grade 9 to Q2, students prepare for the Abitur, with the Lernhaus (Learning House) helping them strengthen skills through courses and workshops to explore their strengths, interests, and development potential. The school also engages internationally through the European Youth Exchange Project (EYE), a collaboration with Jesuit schools in Gent, Turin, Miskolc, and Bonn where projects are conducted in English.

Gifted and Talented

The school implements a dual Förderung approach, seeking to minimize weaknesses and maximize strengths in students. A Learning House (Lernhaus) provides enrichment and guidance beyond the regular curriculum, including IT basics, Rechtskunde (law), open career days, Rhetorik (rhetoric), Bewerbungstraining (interview training), English for business, Börsen‑Ethik (stock‑market ethics), and additional workshops to develop students' talents. It supports students from grade 9 up to Q2 in preparing for life after Abitur and in identifying their strengths, interests, and development potential.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The library serves as a central learning, work, and meeting space. It promotes independence, strengthens media and information literacy, and, as a place of encounter, fosters social competencies, play culture, and community. The AKO-Forum and Lernhaus offer social development opportunities through creative and sports projects, varied activities, and collaborative experiences that support personal growth and group belonging.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school provides learning support for students with reading, writing, and mathematics difficulties as well as motivation and self-organization challenges. Therapeutic support is offered in collaboration with a learning‑therapy practice to strengthen self‑confidence and help students develop new competencies. Nachhilfe is provided only if other measures have failed; differentiated support includes Förderkurse and Förderpläne, as well as the Selbstlernzentrum and Lernhaus to assist students across grade levels.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

English is taught from grade 5 as the first foreign language; Latin is offered as a second language from grade 5 or 7; from grade 9, French or Ancient Greek can be chosen as a third language. Italian or French is introduced in the upper school as a new language. International exchanges and projects (e.g., the European Youth Exchange Project) use English, and Business English is offered as part of Lernhaus activities.

Mental Wellbeing

Kollegsseelsorge (pastoral care) provides support for students, teachers, and parents with life guidance rooted in the Christian faith. It offers confidential conversations, spiritual orientation, and addresses the needs of individuals; it organizes liturgies and days of reflection and retreats. It accompanies the social-practice program and mentorship, and collaborates with Jesuit and archdiocesan networks as part of the crisis-intervention framework.

Safeguarding

The school prioritizes safeguarding and prevention, with a designated safeguarding officer responsible for implementing procedures and for ongoing evaluation and updates. All staff receive specialized training, and there are procedures and reports for addressing abuse, including external reporting resources. The safeguarding officer for the Aloisiuskolleg is Annalena Scholz, and contact details are provided for reporting concerns or seeking guidance; information aligns with the Jesuit order's safeguarding processes.

History

The AKO has its origins dating back to 1900 in the Netherlands. In 1921 it established its present location in Godesberg, which today belongs to Bonn. The Nazi era interrupted its operation. After moving to Bonn, it has operated as an Ignatian network school in the Jesuit educational tradition. The school is an Ignatian network school in Bonn.

Community

The AKO is a community built on shared values, goals and beliefs, providing a deep sense of belonging and mutual support. It is a school to live with friends, an Externat that offers reliable care and learning opportunities beyond the classroom, and an AKO-Forum with a diverse culture, sport and leisure program open to all. School, Externat and AKO-Forum foster community and friendships that often extend beyond the school years. The AKO welcomes diversity.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Parents participate in the life and development of the college through involvement in various committees; the central participation body is Schulpflegschaft. Schulpflegschaft consists of elected representatives and deputies from the respective classes and year groups. Schulpflegschaft delegates to Kollegskonferenz, Schulkonferenz, Fachschaftsgremien, Erziehungsmaßnahmenkonferenz and Stadtschulpflegschaft, and there are various working groups on current topics of school life; regular meetings are held with the college leadership. Parents support the college through voluntary engagement in the library, in the orchestra and in the Förderverein, and they are co-organizers of annual school festivals. Contact information for Schulpflegschaft is available, including the chair and deputy, and the school's address Elisabethstr. 18, 53177 Bonn, with phone and email.

Facilities Overview

The Aloisiuskolleg Bonn is an Ignatian network school with Externat and the AKO-Forum. The education blends Jesuit values-based formation with academic excellence, enabling students to take responsibility and develop their strengths. Nachmittagsbetreuung (Externat) is offered, along with a diverse AKO-Forum program for students. The school is located at Elisabethstr. 18, 53177 Bonn. The campus includes a large leisure area and a range of spaces for study and activity, including a library with a self-learning center and a digital learning program for students. The library holds 16,000 books and is searchable online.

Sports Facilities

Tennis facilities are a major asset at AKO. A Kunstrasenplatz (artificial turf pitch) is used for activities such as archery and football. There is a hall (Halle 2) used for Judo and other sports activities. The AKO-Forum also offers a broad sporting program with open courses in archery, Judo and other sports.

Academic Facilities

The library is the central learning, work and meeting space and includes a Self-Lernzentrum (self-learning center). It supports independence and information literacy and involves volunteer parents in its operation. The library houses a collection of 16,000 books and is searchable online. The Self-Lernzentrum is part of the library and is used for student group work and individual study. Digital learning is implemented through a mandatory iPad program from the 7th grade, with loan devices for grades 5–6 and a parent-funded model from the middle grades onward.

Extra Curricular Facilities

AKO-Forum offers a wide range of courses and workshops, creative and athletic projects, and holiday camps. Lernhaus provides targeted support for students (from grade 9 to Q2) with daily routines, IT basics, legal studies, Business English, and career orientation. Open courses for internal and external participants include activities such as Archery, Judo and Football camps, among others. The program emphasizes opportunities for personal growth, community engagement and regional participation through AKO-Forum activities.

Academic & Intellectual

Mathematics, informatics, and the natural sciences are central to AKO's profile. There are after-school AGs in mathematics and IT, two Math Days per school year, and astronomy offered at the observatory. The school participates in a broad spectrum of competitions, including Känguru, Mathematikolympiade, Alympiade/Wisskunde B-Tag, and the Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, as well as the Singapore International Mathematical and Computational Challenge; in informatics there are Robo AG, a 3D‑Printing AG, and the Lange Nacht der Informatik, with related competitions like Jugendwettbewerb Informatik and zdi Roboterwettbewerb. In physics there are activities such as Freestyle Physics and Exciting Physics and the Physikolympiade; biology currently has no active competition participation, with the last event being Heureka.

Arts & Creative

Music and theater are a longstanding strength. There are both under- and upper-school theater, a choir, an orchestra, and a Big Band, supported by a dedicated Theater Workshop space. The AKO-Forum enriches leisure time with courses, workshops, and holiday camps in sport, dance, singing, theater, orchestra, crafts, and science experiments; these programs are open to Bonn's children and youths. The school also maintains a tradition of student ensembles and theatre productions as part of its cultural life.

Cultural & Language

Fahrtenkonzept and Austausch include mandatory trips for certain year groups (a get-to-know trip in the early years, a ski trip in grade 8, reflection days in grade 9, a Berlin study trip in grade 10, and a study trip in Q2). Optional exchanges include virtual pen pal programs, the Jesuit Security Council Project, and the European Youth Exchange Project; there is also an exchange with the partner school Vittorio Bachelet in Lecco, Italy, and support for individual stays abroad. The program supports intercultural learning through these multilingual and international experiences.

Social & Hobbies

AKO-Forum provides a wide range of non-academic activities, from sports and dance to singing, theatre, and orchestra, plus crafts and hands-on experiments. It also offers courses, workshops, and diverse holiday programs open to Bonn's youth, with the Lernhaus acting as a bridge to future study and work through targeted courses and career preparation. The program emphasizes social engagement, teamwork, and personal development beyond standard classroom learning.

Community & Service

The AKO community participates in charitable activities, including events like Kiwanis-Bonn benefit concerts featuring the school's Big Band and Orchestra to support local children's initiatives.

Leadership & Professional

The Lernhaus coordinates career orientation for students from grade 9 to Q2, offering targeted support for the transition after graduation, including courses in IT basics, law, and Business English, as well as open career days, job shadowing, and professional interview training; additional qualifications such as Cambridge certificates are available. The program emphasizes developing leadership, self-management, and professional skills through structured learning and coaching.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

The Externat provides reliable supervision from 12:30 to 17:00, with optional daily lunch in the Mensa, and 14:00 learning time in small groups to promote independence. There is a core period from 14:00 to 15:30 to ensure a focused learning environment, followed by time for sports, play, or relaxation in a structured setting.

Language Provision

English is taught as the first foreign language from grade 5, continuing the language introduced in primary school. Latin is offered as a second foreign language from grade 5 or 7. In grade 9, students choose between Ancient Greek or French as a Wahlpflichtfach. At the start of the upper secondary level, at least one language from the Sekundarstufe I is continued; Italian or French can be introduced as a new language in the Oberstufe.

Immersion Programs

Language immersion opportunities exist through international exchanges and language-focused projects. An Italian language exchange with the Vittorio Bachelet school in Lecco provides real-life Italian language exposure with host families during stays in Italy. The European Youth Exchange Project (EYE) involves Jesuit schools in Gent, Turin, Miskolc and Bonn, and works on a project in English, fostering cross-border collaboration in English.

Admissions

1. Gymnasium admissions: Registration for the Gymnasium typically takes place during the 4th school year. Prospective students are invited to an interview and may participate in the selection process. There are no fixed admission criteria; the school aims to form a balanced class so that students can be supported in an individualized way. 2. Externat admissions and Mensa: Externat registration is usually at the start of the school year for the current academic year, and Externat is offered to students from class 5 onward. Registration/contract forms for Externat and Mensa are provided as PDFs, along with a SEPA direct debit form. The Solidardfonds enables about 10% of externat costs to be subsidized as scholarships for families who demonstrate financial need, funded by alumni and donors.

Scholarships

Solidardfonds offers scholarships covering about 10% of externat costs for families who demonstrate financial need. The fund is supported by contributions from alumni and other donors, and aims to help with a portion of the externat costs.

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