18 Sep Democracy in the Arts at Ranum
We have launched the biggest democratic process at Ranum Efterskole College, where pupils will help to choose this autumn’s and winter’s cultural subjects.
We have also held this year’s Family Day, where around 1,500 pupils, families and friends of the school took part in either a run or a walk around Vilsted Lake. The Family Day was also a charity run, in which pupils competed to raise the most money for our partner schools around the world.
Happy reading!
Family Day: A Time for Togetherness
On Saturday, we were full of energy as we opened the doors to this year’s Family Day. Together, we ran and walked either 4.7 or 12.5 kilometres around beautiful Vilsted Lake, and the whole day was filled with positive energy.
We are absolutely overwhelmed by the fantastic support. Around 1,500 people gathered for a day when pupils, families and friends of the school could come together and enjoy each other’s company.
The Family Day also provided the setting for an internal competition amongst the pupils, the aim of which was to raise as much money as possible for our partner schools around the world. This year, the fundraising campaign focused in particular on our Nepalese partner schools and friends of efterskolen, who have been severely affected by the devastating flood that has caused widespread destruction in the area.
The pupils’ commitment has been fantastic; next week we’ll be announcing the winning contact group that managed to raise the most money for the charity run.
Thank you to everyone who helped make Family Day such a fantastic day – and, in particular, to all of you who supported our partner schools.
The biggest democratic process in Ranum has begun!
Which country and which culture would you like to explore in depth? It is now up to the pupils to decide. The selection of cultural subjects is now underway, and with it an exciting democratic process has begun. Pupils must choose the cultural subject they wish to explore in depth throughout the autumn and winter – and there are plenty of options. Each subject opens the door to a new culture, new perspectives and truly unique experiences.
The day began with a joint briefing, after which the pupils set off to explore the many stands. Here, they were able to meet the teachers responsible for the subjects, ask questions and learn more about the different countries and cultures.
Next, it was time for the first round of voting, in which the pupils had to vote for their top three. In a few weeks’ time, we’ll repeat the process, and that’s how we’ll decide which cultural subjects to introduce this winter.
We are now eagerly awaiting the results and looking forward to seeing where the pupils’ curiosity, interests and voices take us.
From idea to 3D print
Everyone should experience a stroll through the corridors of Ranum Efterskole College on a normal school day. There’s actually a great deal going on in every nook and cranny.
In our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) laboratory, the pupils worked on 3D printing, amongst other things. Some finished off previous projects, including the small model aeroplanes that you can see in the photos below. Others threw themselves into new and more challenging designs, which needed to be prepared for 3D printing. And then there was Jesper, who got to grips with the mechanics when one of the 3D printers broke down. He simply set about finding the fault and getting the printer working again.
It’s great to see how the pupils are working creatively, trying their hand at new technologies and helping one another to tackle the challenges that arise along the way.
Visit from Morsø Gymnasium
On Thursday, we had the pleasure of welcoming a visit from Morsø Gymnasium, where a small group of staff had come to spend a day at Ranum. Among other things, they had the opportunity to experience our process for selecting cultural subjects. It is a very special process, in which the pupils themselves are given the opportunity to decide which subjects and cultures they would like to explore in depth, thereby helping to shape their own efterskole year.
We are always delighted to welcome visits and engage in mutual discussion with other schools, and to share our experiences and thoughts on education.
Thank you for visiting and for your interest in Ranum!
The early days at Ranum
Our two brilliant students, Proud from Thailand and Lise from Denmark, have joined forces on a joint project: to document what happens over the course of a efterskole year.
This week, they have been interviewing their friends and flatmates about their early days at Ranum. They have asked them about their first impressions, experiences and feelings about starting at efterskole. As the school year draws to a close, they plan to interview the same pupils again. They will look back on the year and examine how the pupils have developed – both personally and socially – after a full year on the efterskole programme.
Below, you can get a glimpse into the pupils’ first few weeks at Ranum.
Craft & Design
This week, the pupils at Craft & Design have been trying their hand at linocut printing – a creative art form in which you carve patterns and motifs into linoleum and then use them to make prints on paper. It’s a small group of pupils, but that doesn’t make the sense of community any less strong. Quite the opposite. The pupils are all different and each brings their own personality to the group, but they’ve bonded as a team, and it’s clear that they’re enjoying each other’s company.
One of the special things about being engaged in a creative activity is that conversations often arise quite naturally. Whilst people are cutting, printing and experimenting, they’re also chatting – about everything from the big to the small, and occasionally about matters of a slightly deeper nature.
It’s lovely to see how a creative subject can help foster both deep engagement and meaningful conversations.
Day of the Afterschools
On 27 September, from 10.00 to 17.00, we’ll be opening the doors to Ranum Efterskole College as part of Efterskole Day.
Our pupils are ready to show you around, tell you about their everyday lives and give you an honest insight into what it’s like to be a pupil at Ranum.
With more than 50 subjects on offer, there are plenty of opportunities to put together a timetable that suits each pupil’s interests and curiosity. On the day, you can try your hand at crafts, sailing, design and dance, amongst other things, and get a taste of some of the many subjects and activities that form part of life at Ranum.
Of course, there will also be an opportunity to enjoy the delicious food, the cosy atmosphere and, not least, that special efterskole sense of community.
Registration for Efterskolernes Day
We look forward to seeing you!
Headmaster's column
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Vilsted Sø Charity Run and Family Day on Saturday. There was a really good turnout from both pupils and families, and great support from the pupils’ sponsors. Next week, we’ll be announcing which contact group and family group raised the most money.
The selection process for new cultural subjects and cultural study trips is now underway. It is a truly unique, democratic and inclusive process, and it’s absolutely exhilarating to witness the energy of the pupils and staff. There’s a sparkle in their eyes and already a bit of a knot in their stomachs, because there’s so much at stake. Fortunately, we have three more rounds of voting to decide on the new subjects before the parents also cast their votes after the autumn half-term.
This week, I also had my baptism of fire on TikTok. Some pupils made videos using AI-generated images of me alongside people I would never associate myself with. It was both offensive and completely at odds with the values we uphold at school. Fortunately, the pupils came forward afterwards to apologise, and following a discussion with all of them, the videos were taken down. It was by no means a pleasant experience, but I’m proud of the support and understanding I’ve since received from so many pupils.
This week, the chairman of the Efterskole Association, Torben Vind Rasmussen, made a statement to the press announcing that the Efterskole Association would recommend that politicians raise the legal drinking age to 18. This is a welcome announcement in light of statistics showing that young Danes consume far more alcohol than their peers elsewhere in Europe. The announcement had not been fully coordinated with member schools, so on the same day we shared the Parents’ Council and the Party Committee’s invitation to student parties involving alcohol. We broadly agree with the association. However, at the same time, Danish young people’s party culture is an area where we also take action through education, upbringing and a sense of community. We do not turn a blind eye to the dangerous parties where there is no adult supervision regarding alcohol. We therefore support the Parents’ Council and the Party Committee in organising safe, inclusive and absolutely brilliant student parties with very clear guidelines for 500+ young people at a time.
Yours sincerely
Olav Storm
Principal
It happens:
Calendar
- EMI WIDE Concert 22 September 26
- Efterskolernes, 27 September 26
- Specialist Study Trips 03/10/26
- Autumn half-term 12 October 26
- Alumni Day for former pupils 24 October 26
- Performance weekend 31 October 26
- Lecture by Naser Khader, 12 November 26
- Christmas Fun Weekend 14 November 26
- TEBO 17 November 1926
- ‘Life of a Busker’ concert, 18 November 26
- Performance, week 24 November 26
- Family Day 28 November 26
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