Our School
Home away from home.
At St. Gilgen International School in Austria, we provide a home away from home, with a world-class education in an extraordinary environment. With a breathtaking Alpine backdrop, the magical lakeside town of St. Gilgen offers charming local traditions, a secure community and an outdoor sports paradise. Combined with modern teaching methodologies and an inviting international community, this ideal learning environment is perfectly designed to ensure each student thrives.
Every child has a talent and
St. Gilgen International School will develop it.
Key facts about St. Gilgen International School
Welcome. Wilkommen. Bienvenida.
Our school community consists of over 30 nationalities. We believe in strength through diversity.
Just fly by.
StGIS is located 35 minutes from Salzburg Airport, Austria. That’s really easy access to the rest of Europe.
Every student matters.
We have a 5:1 staff-to-student ratio – amongst the best in the world. This provides each student with the support they need to grow.
Find your tongue.
We teach in English and offer the opportunity to study German (as mother tongue or second language). We also offer Spanish and French, and a well-developed self-taught mother tongue programme for IB Diploma students (ie. Italian, Russian and Mandarin Chinese).
Explore your playground.
The local Salzkammergut region has 50 mountain summits, 67 lakes with drinking water quality and 300km of ski slopes. St.Gilgen is also a UNESCO World Heritage site!
Conquer the world.
What’s next – Harvard? Oxford? We prepare students for the best universities and colleges around the globe.
Hone your talents.
We help all our students explore their talents and offer comprehensive and professional instruction and coaching in musical, sporting, theatrical, artistic and outdoor endeavors.
We’re in this together.
We offer a generous scholarship programme for talented and motivated students.
Dates & Numbers
The numbers add up.
Here are a few quick dates & numbers about St.Gilgen International School:
Founded: 2008
Students: ~200
Day-to-Boarding ratio: 50%/ 50%
Average class size: 12 – 15
Nationalities: ~30
Teaching staff: 44
Student-to-Teacher ratio: 5:1
Average IBDP score: 33 Points
Students receiving a scholarship: 30%
Our Mission, Vision & Values
From the moment a student enters our gates for the first time right through to their final graduation, there are four significant features of our mission which we strive to achieve.
Equipped for tomorrow.
Each student comes to us with unique knowledge, skills, energy and ideas. It is our goal to always provide the right environments in which these talents and abilities can flourish. With uniquely fine-tuned skillsets and an unrivalled education – our students are equipped with the tools and self-belief to become masters of their own future. As they step out into the world as change agents, our goal is to ensure that each and every student is fully prepared and ready to rise to the top of their chosen fields.
Empowered to be your best.
Every student enters St. Gilgen International School with talent – our mission is to ensure each student discovers and fully explores this talent in the right environments. With the right support network and specialists in every field – students are perfectly positioned to master their talents and reach their fullest potential. According to Aristotle, excellence is a habit – and it’s our goal to ensure our students develop into the very best versions of themselves they can possibly be.
Become a force for good.
We believe international education has a fundamental role to play in the future of our world. With a steadfast commitment to an international mindset, intercultural awareness and strength in diversity; we believe in the responsibility of the global citizen. We teach every student to embrace moral courage, integrity and mutual respect – to live their lives ethically and always acting as a force for good.
Discover a lifelong love of learning.
Our biggest goal is to ensure each student graduates with a relentless curiosity and a desire to discover all that life has to offer. Every day our teachers fuel a passion for knowledge with detailed explorations of life’s fascinating details. To be open for new understandings and constantly seeking new wisdom is a disposition that characterises all those in St. Gilgen International School.
Seize the opportunity of a lifetime – an education that lasts a lifetime.
Our History
History in the making.
St Gilgen International School was founded in 2008 by prominent Austrian architect Alexander Serda, who envisaged a truly unique educational experience in breathtaking natural surroundings. The goal was to build a dynamic and vibrant school community through a blend of talented teachers and students from around the world – the result being a progressive academic community powered by its unrivaled depth in culture, diversity, talent and experience.
The core mission would be the community’s relentless pursuit of excellence – this would become known as the ‘path of excellence’.
A very special site for the school was chosen – the land was previously occupied by the famous Austrian writer Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach and situated next to the beautiful Wolfgangsee lake. This historical relationship contains three significant connections.
The first is scholarship and creativity. Marie was one of the most important German writers of the 19th century and her success lays an inspirational foundation for our community’s pursuit of academic excellence.
The second is empowerment. Marie faced many challenges as a female writer of this time and is recognised as a progressive figure in the historic movement for women’s liberation. Our goal is to equip our students with such strength and integrity to go fearlessly into the world and help make it a more just and equal place for all.
The third is an international mindset. The legend is that Marie planted all the trees on the campus. She chose trees from all corners of the world and they now stand tall together. This now represents our belief in strength in diversity and global awareness.
Today St.GIS is proud to be recognized as the most exclusive school in the country by leading Austrian newspapers.
School Ownership
St. Gilgen International School functions as a non-profit foundation.
On the 17th of May in 2016, ownership of the school passed to a foundation of parents of the school community (Privatstiftung). The owner of the operating company of the School is St. Gilgen International School Privatstiftung (a foundation in terms of Austrian law).
With its headquarters in St. Gilgen, the foundation’s sole purpose is the promotion of St. Gilgen International School. The school is operated by St. Gilgen International School GmbH, a limited company whose profit is reinvested back into the school. Thus, our school has no profit-driven owners, but only voluntary Foundation Executives and Members. You can find the charter of the Foundation in German and English here.
The foundation was established by 9 members in 2016, and more joined since then. You can find the list of all Founders and Donors here. Before the Foundation was established, the School was a private enterprise. The new ownership harnesses our community spirit and drives us to work together in a continued effort to improve our already exceptional school.
The Foundation
The Executive Board, consisting of the Chairman Gert Fahrnberger, Deputy Chairman Christian Dreyer and Andrea von Baumbach.
The Advisory Council, consisting of Founders, as well as representatives of the Parents’ Association, the municipality of St. Gilgen, and the county of Salzburg – the complete list can be found here. The tasks of the Foundation are limited to strategic topics, while the school’s operation is the responsibility of the subsidiary St. Gilgen International School GmbH. Strategic tasks include the principles and governance of the School, its long-term development, the appointment of the Head of School, and the financing thereof. The governance is laid out in the Board Policy Manual, which you can find here.
The ongoing school operation is financed through school fees and generous scholarship partners. The school does not receive any public funding, nor does it seek such funding, so that it may remain independent in educational and personnel decisions. However, the Foundation ensures that all necessary accreditations of the national and international school authorities are gained, and are constantly renewed. The list of all our accreditations can be found here.
The Foundation sees itself as a committed, philanthropic institution and welcomes new Founders at any time. A one-time endowment of at least €100,000 entitles the holder to a lifelong seat on the Foundation’s Advisory Council.
Events
Community Days
Inspiring People Series
Wings for Life Run
IB Art Exhibition
Concerts
School Leadership
Martina Metz
Andrew Woodman
Adam Crew
Natascha Lohse
Academic Staff
John Patton
Peter Bennett
Leaza May
Nicole Gifi
Declan Fleming
Paul La Rondie
Kennie Dowle
Curtis Powell
Clare Willey
Malcolm Martin
Irena Gingl
Sally Powell
Hayley Oughton
Travis McKeen
Neil May
Neil Gower
Julie Ham
Peter Allen
Elizabeth La Rondie
Ana Martinez Ribeiro
Anna Kaniecka-Iwanska
Andrea Hauer
Rob Hilliard
Helen Hopping
Christine Bayer-Borrero
Liz Riley
Laurence Norfolk
Maia Bristol
Thomas Kukla
Raúl Salvador Noguera
Jörg Bodingbauer
Kirsty Lamont
Sam Nelson
Carolyn Macintosh
Sarah Crew
Lewis Parry
Alexandra Bird
Emma Jordan
Kate Doody
Michelle Murray
Zoe Leffler
Administrative Staff
Business Administration
Ulrike Weil
Maximilian Obauer
Elli Pressinger
Theresa Stangl
Rachael Dale
Arnulf Trimborn
Support Staff
Tanja Hofer
Birgit Aspoeck
Vacancies
Beyond a job.
Do you view education and learning as a meaningful way of life and not simply a job? Are you an adventurous person who acts with purpose, integrity and have a good sense of humour? If so, then you are the type of person who will thrive at St. Gilgen International School.
Grow with us.
Our goal of ensuring each child receives a truly outstanding education is in the hands of the exceptional teachers we’ve recruited from around the globe. All staff, in whatever capacity they are employed at the school, are entitled to full support, professional development and personal growth. Our staff are our most valuable assets.
Go all in.
We welcome applications and aim to appoint strong practitioners who are passionate about teaching, student-centred, innovative, full of ideas and who can contribute positively to all aspects of learning in our busy 7-day-a-week boarding school programme. Most importantly, you will be a proactive team player who thrives on collaborating with colleagues.
Apply now.
If you feel that you are ready to join us, then we would welcome your application. The ability to speak German, whilst obviously helpful, is not a requirement. We thank you now for the time and effort you will put into your application; we assure you that it will be given detailed and thorough consideration.
Residential Assistant - Boarding House
Contract type: Full Time
Contract term: 29th September 2019 – 30th June 2020
Salary: 18,040 Euro
Deadline: 15th March 2019
Teacher of MYP Design (with Art)
Dates: From August 2019
Contract type: Full Time
Salary: € 39,923 to € 55,682
Deadline: Friday 5th April
Please download the full application pack for each open post. Included is a detailed overview of the application process and specific details about each post. You should also download and complete the application form below as part of any final application submission.
St. Gilgen International School welcomes CVs and letters of application that have clearly been tailored to potential future vacancies at StGIS. We undertake to consider them and to keep them on file for one year and refer to them when we are advertising vacancies.
Please send to info(at)stgis.at.
Please note:
We do not advertise our vacancies on ESLemployment.com or globaltesol.com. If you have seen a job advertisement on those websites, they were not placed by St. Gilgen International School.
Our Location
Where the magic happens.
Austria is a safe and beautiful country which provides the ideal environment for education. A unique feature of our school is its idyllic setting in the village of St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgangsee – it’s simply magical and we’ve been compared to Hogwarts on more than one occasion!
Welcome to paradise.
The natural beauty of our environment allows us to offer exceptional opportunities for outdoor adventure, including mountain biking, rock-climbing and hiking as well as sports such as skiing, sailing and horseback riding. In the winter months students can ski and snowboard to their heart’s content every weekend and enjoy a healthy lifestyle with fresh air away from the pollution of towns and cities.
Culture at your fingertips.
Our close proximity to the cultural hub of Salzburg offers students the opportunity to experience world-class music and theatre. In addition, students can enjoy weekend visits to art galleries and museums in Vienna and Munich.
Find your Platform 9¾.
Transportation links via international airports in Salzburg, Munich and Vienna mean that access is straightforward from global destinations and Salzburg is also connected to the excellent European rail network. A school bus service runs from Salzburg, so no matter which way you prefer to travel in – we’ve got you covered.
Contact Details
St. Gilgen International School
Ischlerstraße 13
5340 St. Gilgen
Austria
P +43 6227 202 59
F +43 6227 202 59 10
info@stgis.at
