Vejlefjord Gymnasium in Daugård, Denmark, will close on June 30, 2025, at the end of this school year. The school’s board made this decision at a meeting on March 5 after careful consideration and a thorough assessment of the financial and structural challenges that have characterized the school’s operations in recent years. This is an unfortunate but necessary decision to ensure that the school can adapt to the reality that will unfold in the future, school leaders said. All other departments at the school will continue unchanged.
“Even though it is a very painful decision, we must realize that it is impossible to run a small high school of this size anymore. Now we will work purposefully to further develop our school offerings, including the creation of new positions at the boarding school, where there is a need for more teachers. Here we see good opportunities to create new and exciting offers in a strengthened after-school department,” said principal Kasper Busk.
After several years of low new-student enrollments, the school’s board has been forced to make this difficult decision. The prospect of another small first-grade class in the coming school year was the decisive factor that led to the board’s voting to close the high school. Since 1972 the high school has educated many students, and it is with great sadness that they now have to say goodbye to this part of the school, they reported.
Even though the high school will close, the school’s other departments—nursery and kindergarten, primary school, and continuation school—will continue their positive development and growth, leaders reported. “Vejlefjordskolen is known for its strong academic foundation and value-based approach to teaching, and these will continue to be the core of the school’s activities,” they said.
The current school year for the upper-secondary school will end as planned, and great emphasis is being placed on ensuring a proper transition for the students, school leaders reported. “The school’s management works closely with relevant parties to help the current first- and second-grade students find suitable upper-secondary schools where they can complete their education. Likewise, the many talented high school teachers will be helped further,” they said.
Vejlefjord School was founded by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1930 and today is an independent institution with close ties to the corporate church. The school is located in scenic surroundings, where outdoor life and nature play a central role in the teaching. Leaders said they want to continue strengthening that focus on the other departments. “We want to thank all students, parents, staff, and partners who have been part of the high school’s history over the years. Shortly we will arrange a farewell celebration to say a proper goodbye to this era of Vejlefjord School’s activities,” they shared.
Thomas Müller, former president of the Danish Union of Churches Conference, who also took on the role of director of the school, reflects in a recent interview on his transition from church to school leadership, his educational philosophy, and his vision for the school as it navigates this challenging time.
The original version of this story was posted on the Trans-European Division news site.