Our School
Home away from home.
St. Gilgen International School in Austria offers a world-class education in an extraordinary environment. Nestled in the stunning Alpine landscape, the enchanting lakeside town of St. Gilgen is a haven of local traditions, security, and outdoor sports. Our modern teaching methods and vibrant international community create an ideal learning setting where every student flourishes.
Every child has a talent and
St. Gilgen International School will develop it.
Key facts about St. Gilgen International School
Welcome. Willkommen. Bienvenida. Our school community boasts over 35 nationalities, valuing strength in diversity.
Just fly by. StGIS, only 35 minutes from Salzburg Airport, Austria, offers easy access across Europe.
Every student matters. With a 5:1 staff-to-student ratio, we provide personalized support for individual growth.
Find your tongue. We teach in English, offer German, Spanish, and French, and a self-taught mother tongue program for IB Diploma students.
Explore your playground. The UNESCO World Heritage site of St. Gilgen is surrounded by 50 mountain summits, 67 pristine lakes, and 300km of ski slopes.
Conquer the world. We prepare students for top universities globally, including Harvard and Oxford.
Hone your talents. We nurture students’ talents in music, sports, theater, art, and outdoor activities with professional instruction.
We’re in this together. Our generous scholarship program supports 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: ~220
Day-to-Boarding ratio: 50%/ 50%
Average class size: 12 – 15
Nationalities: ~40
Teaching staff: 44
Student-to-Teacher ratio: 5:1
Average IBDP score: 36 Points
Students receiving a scholarship: 30%
Our Mission, Vision & Values
From entry to graduation, our mission at St. Gilgen International School focuses on four key aspects:
Equipped for tomorrow. We aim to nurture each student’s unique talents and abilities in the right environment, equipping them with fine-tuned skills and an unrivaled education for future success.
Empowered to be your best. Our mission is to help each student discover and maximize their talents. With a supportive network and specialists in every field, we position students to master their skills and reach their full potential.
Become a force for good. We believe in the power of international education to shape a better world. Emphasizing an international mindset, intercultural awareness, and diversity, we teach students to embody moral courage, integrity, and mutual respect, acting as forces for good.
Discover a lifelong love of learning. Our ultimate goal is for students to graduate with a relentless curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning. Our teachers inspire a thirst for knowledge, fostering an open-minded quest for wisdom and understanding.
Seize the opportunity of a lifetime – an education that lasts a lifetime.
Sustainability at StGIS
We aim to make St.Gilgen International School as eco-friendly as possible within a full and broad understanding of sustainability.
We undertake to continuously educate and inform our community about our impact on the planet.
The below link will direct you to our dedicated StGIS Sustainability page where you can see current and past projects, plus registration for the Climate Solutions Conference 2024.
Our sustainability team aims to:
- Use resources in a circular manner, everything gets reused whenever possible, creating a circular system within our community.
- Raise awareness about environmental problems and the impact we have on the environment.
- Make contributions to global and local projects with our widest community.
- Reduce our carbon footprint to make the school more sustainable.
- Include every student, every member of staff and every member of the school community in the Ecoschools project.
Our History
History in the making.
Founded in 2008 by renowned Austrian architect Alexander Serda, St Gilgen International School was envisioned as a unique educational experience set in stunning natural surroundings. The aim was to create a dynamic and vibrant school community, combining talented teachers and students from around the globe. This blend has resulted in a progressive academic community, rich 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’.
Our school’s unique location, formerly the home of renowned Austrian writer Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach and beside the picturesque Wolfgangsee lake, holds three significant connections.
Firstly, scholarship and creativity. Marie, a pivotal 19th-century German writer, inspires our community’s pursuit of academic excellence with her legacy.
Secondly, empowerment. As a pioneering female writer overcoming her era’s challenges, Marie symbolizes our aim to instill strength and integrity in students, preparing them to contribute to a just and equal world.
Thirdly, an international mindset. Legend says Marie planted trees from all around the world on our campus, symbolizing our commitment to diversity and global awareness.
Today, St.GIS is honored to be recognized as Austria’s most exclusive school by leading national newspapers.
Non-Profit School Operator
St. Gilgen International School is supported by a foundation focused on its sustainable operation and development for the community’s benefit.
Ownership transitioned to a parent-founded foundation (Privatstiftung) on May 17, 2016. The school’s operating company is now owned by St. Gilgen International School Privatstiftung, in accordance with Austrian law.
St. Gilgen International School GmbH, a limited company, operates the school, reinvesting profits for its growth. This ensures no profit-driven owners, but committed Foundation Executives and Members. You can find the charter of the Foundation in German and English here.
Founded in 2016 by 9 members, with more additions since, the full list of Founders and Donors is here. Initially a private enterprise, the current ownership model enhances our community spirit, driving collective efforts to further improve our distinguished school.
The Foundation
The Executive Board of our school is led by Chair Gert Fahrnberger, Deputy Chair Christian Dreyer, and Tanja Scherb.
The Advisory Council includes Founders, representatives from the Parents’ Association, St. Gilgen municipality, and Salzburg county. The complete list is available here. The Foundation’s role is strategic, overseeing the School’s principles and governance, long-term development, Head of School appointments, and financing, while St. Gilgen International School GmbH manages daily operations. The governance structure is detailed in the Board Policy Manual, accessible here.
School operations are funded through fees and scholarships. We don’t seek public funding to maintain independence in educational and personnel decisions. However, we ensure ongoing accreditation with national and international authorities, with a complete list of accreditations here.
The Foundation, a committed philanthropic body, is open to new Founders. A minimum €100,000 endowment grants a lifelong Advisory Council seat.
Media Coverage
Puls4 documentary "Schulwahnsinn" (in German)
Events
IB Art Exhibition
Concerts
Community Days
Inspiring People Series
Wings for Life Run
School Leadership
Martina Moetz
Andrew Woodman
Adam Crew
Natascha Lohse
Academic Staff
John Patton
Peter Bennett
Leaza May
Nicole Gifi
Declan Fleming
Emma Jordan
Paul La Rondie
Clare Willey
Nadia Ambigaibalan
Liz Riley
Carlos Cazorla
Julie Ham
Arwel Evans
Irena Gingl
Julia Peters
Richard Peacock Fraser
Julie Porter
Travis McKeen
Monika Peacock
Neil Gower
Malvika Kala
Peter Allen
Kirsty Lamont
Cornelia Edwards
Sarah Crew
Michael Soeldner
Carolyn James
Guy Daws
Anna Kaniecka-Iwanska
Thomas Disney
Veronika Flint
Lindsey Stirrat
William Flint
Christine Bayer-Borrero
Matthew Brown
Maia Bristol
Sally Powell
Neil May
Stuart Payne
Maria Mateo Becerril
Alexandra Bird
Aaron Pereira
Lettie Adams
Sarah Street
Elizabeth La Rondie
Lewis Parry
Daniel Brazier
Grace Brand
David Dragulj
Andrea Patton
Thomas Kukla
Jacob Street
Irakli Khukhunaishvli
Anastasiia Vdovychak
Katherine Langley
Kelly-Ann Wickham
Kenneth Stirrat
Aikaterina Tsiava
Clare Duckers
Max Fitzgerald
Christina Weichselbaumer
StGIS Staff
Administrative Staff
Business Administration
Ulrike Weil
Maximilian Obauer
Burgi Swete
Theresa Stangl
Kerstin Dierker
Manuela Hubbart
Victoria Brandstätter
Rachael Dale
Arnulf Trimborn
Markus Gneist
Lily Burford
Support Staff
Birgit Aspoeck
Alexandra Erber
Tanja Aichriedler
Vacancies
Beyond a Job. At St. Gilgen International School, we seek individuals who see education as a meaningful way of life, not just a job. If you’re adventurous, act with purpose and integrity, and have a good sense of humor, you’ll thrive in our community.
Grow with Us. Our commitment to providing outstanding education lies with our exceptional global teaching staff. All staff members, regardless of their role, receive full support, professional development, and opportunities for personal growth. We value our staff as our most important assets.
Go All In. We invite applications from dedicated educators who are passionate about teaching, student-centered, and innovative. Ideal candidates should be ready to contribute to our intensive 7-day boarding school program, bringing fresh ideas and a proactive team spirit.
Apply Now. If you’re prepared to join our team at St. Gilgen International School, we encourage your application. German language skills are beneficial but not required. We appreciate the effort you put into your application and promise it will receive careful and thorough consideration.
Social Media Specialist & Alumni Liaison
Contract type: Full Time
Start of work: Immediate
Teacher of German & Spanish as an Additional Language
Dates: From August 2024
Contract type: Full Time
Salary: € 44,858 to € 64,938
Deadline: Monday 9th June 2024
Maternity Cover: Teacher of German A (Language and Literature)
Dates: From August 2024
Contract type: Full Time
Salary: € 44,858 to € 64,938
Deadline: Monday 1st April 2024
Teacher of Mathematics
Dates: From August 2024
Contract type: Full Time
Salary: € 44,858 to € 64,938
Deadline: Monday 4th March 2024
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.
St. Gilgen International School invites CVs and customized application letters for potential future roles at StGIS. We commit to reviewing these applications, keeping them on file for a year, and referring to them when vacancies arise. Please send your applications to info@stgis.at.
Our Location
Where the Magic Happens. Austria, renowned for its safety and beauty, provides an ideal setting for education. Our school’s unique charm lies in its picturesque location in St. Gilgen, on Lake Wolfgangsee, often likened to the enchanting Hogwarts.
Welcome to Paradise. Our stunning natural surroundings enable us to offer extraordinary outdoor adventures, including mountain biking, rock climbing, and hiking. We also offer skiing, sailing, and horseback riding. During winter, students can ski and snowboard every weekend, enjoying a healthy lifestyle in the fresh, pollution-free air.
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Culture at Your Fingertips. Situated near Salzburg’s cultural heart, our students have access to world-class music and theater. Weekend trips to art galleries and museums in Vienna and Munich are additional highlights.
Find Your Platform 9¾. With international airports in Salzburg, Munich, and Vienna, and connections to Europe’s excellent rail network, access from around the world is easy. Our school bus service from Salzburg ensures convenient travel, covering all your transportation needs.
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
