Overview of an int’l school #2 – Berlin International School: excellence in education

How great that each international school is unique!

In this overview of an international school we would like to highlight Berlin International School in Germany.

Currently there are 4 international schools listed in Berlin on International School Community.


Berlin International School (B.I.S.) is the leading, non-profit day international school offering a comprehensive education program for students aged 5 to 18 in the greater Berlin area at Campus Dahlem.

Almost 1000 students from more than 60 countries attend one of the school’s sections or Kita International, the independent Early Childhood Center (Early Childhood Center for children 3 to 5; Primary School for students aged 5 to 11; Middle and High School for students aged 11 to 18); all on one campus in the beautiful, leafy Dahlem in the south-west of Berlin (Zehlendorf), conveniently located close to the Kurfürstendamm and the embassies around Tiergarten.

B.I.S. is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and a Cambridge Exam Center and also authorized to offer the IBPYP and IB-Diploma Programme. The school is accredited by both the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in the U.S. and is a SAT Test Center. B.I.S. is also officially approved by the Berlin Department of Education.

At B.I.S., the focus is two-fold: excellence in education and the personal growth of every student. Students learn in a multicultural community where each person is respected regardless of nationality, race, or religion. Students discover the world, its people, and its cultures through direct experience. Through play, study, and the relationships they form, students at B.I.S. learn to appreciate their own strengths and to respect differences rather than fear them. Combined with academic rigor, this experience extends outside the classroom and equips students for success and global citizenship beyond school.

A strong academic program, centered around the traditional core disciplines, prepares students for entrance into colleges, universities, or other institutions providing tertiary education and training. B.I.S. offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) and a U.S. recognized High School Diploma. In addition, the school provides courses and learning support services which address the needs of a student body diverse in educational background and ability. More than 90% of the graduating seniors enter universities and institutions of higher learning worldwide.

The B.I.S curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all B.I.S. learners. It is relevant, challenging and engaging, allowing students to fully develop their potential in terms of the skills, attitudes, values and knowledge required to meet their current and future needs. Consequently, inquiry, problem solving, opportunity for creativity and team-working are key features.

Learning opportunities are not restricted to the classroom; the wider world is embraced to further support learning, personal growth and development

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) is followed at the Primary School. The Middle School curriculum for Grades 6 through 8 is based on best practice for this age group from national systems around the world, adapted for an international context. The High School offers a rigorous and balanced program of studies allowing students to progress to the International General Certificate of Education and the IB Diploma.

The curriculum is dynamic and responsive – it evolves, responds and develops in accordance with the needs of our students and contemporary research into learning and teaching, while maintaining the highest international standards. The on-going professional development of our highly skilled faculty is a key resource for improving curriculum and student learning.

External link: Berlin International School »

**This article was taken from the TheLocal website.

International schools that were founded in 1974 (The Netherlands, Spain and Indonesia)

Random year for international schools around the world: 1974

Utilizing the database of the 923 international schools currently listed on International School Community, we found 3 international schools that were founded in 1974 (excepts about their founding are taken from the schools’ websites):

International Secondary School Eindhoven (Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

“The secondary or high school section opened its doors in September 1974. Initially, it only offered the London based General Certificate of Education (GCE) curriculum. In 1982, the pre-university International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum was introduced as a follow on to the GCE programme. At the present time, the school´s curriculum is based on the IB Middle Years and IB Diploma Programmes.”

American School Valencia  (Valencia, Spain)

“In 1974, the company Ford España, S.A. was established in Valencia, and many American and British families came over to create and develop the company. Within a short time, it became evident that schooling for the children of these families was needed and thus the Angloamerican School of Valencia in the town of Rocafort was created.  An increasing number of children from Valencia enrolled in the school, so that when the foreign families returned to their countries of origin, these Spanish families wanted to continue educating their children in a bilingual school. Los Monasterios was selected as the site, and the Spanish-English bilingual school, Colegio Hispano Norteamericano was built in 1980.  The name was changed to American School of Valencia to reflect the fact that our language of instruction, except in Spanish subjects, is English. Beginning with only 27 students, we now have 750 students from nursery to grade 12.”

International School Bogor (Bogor, Indonesia)

“The establishment of the Bogor Expatriate School was from a direct response and needs of expatriate families living in Bogor.  Our friend and mentor Mrs. Mahdi consulted Dr. Syarief Thayeb, the Minister of Education for advice and assistance.   Accordingly the Yayasan Bogor Expatriate School was established by notarial deed. In May 1974 Mr. L. Shepler, the director of industrial relations for the Good Year Company, formed a committee of expatriate parents to examine the various possibility to provide primary education in Bogor for the international community.  At the time, expatriate children living in Bogor, attended embassy schools in Jakarta, a drive of 1 to 2 hours for pre-school to grade 6 students over a road considered to be extremely dangerous.  In order to eliminate this daily travel,  Good Year Company spearheaded the effort to establish an expatriate school.  The many difficulties faced by this enterprising group were overcome and due to their determination, the Bogor Expatriate School was founded on June 15, 1974 in a converted house on Jalan Pangrango 15.”

Great resource: Want to work at an international school in Germany?

The How To Germany website (www.howtogermany.com/pages/internationalschools.html) has some excellent insight on the many international schools in Germany.


There are many international educators interested in working at these schools.  Currently, there are 21 international schools listed under Germany on International School Community.  There are 20 international schools listed on the How To Germany website.  Some of the international schools listed on their website are:

Highlighted sections from their website:

There are compelling reasons why you might choose to send your children to one of Germany’s many fine international schools.

“Many English-speaking expatriates are educating their children at Germany’s international schools, and an education at such a school has numerous advantages.

There is, of course, instruction in the native language. And, since the student body is usually quite international, they expose the young people to a variety of cultures. They also do a better job than most German schools of introducing the students to computers, and the program of sports and extracurricular activities is more like what they are accustomed to at home.

Physical plants and facilities are usually quite modern, clean and comfortable, with new equipment more conducive to learning. And the curricula among international schools is uniform, allowing ease of transfer. They usually are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and normally offer the International Baccalaureate. They may also offer the American high school diploma, British A Levels and, sometimes, the GermanAbitur.

The costs vary from school to school and in some cases may approximate what a US college education commands: as much as €16,000 per high school student per year. Preschool and elementary school grades may cost 30 to 50 percent less. Additional costs could include transportation, lunches, class trips and various special activities.”

Berlin Brandenburg International School


“Berlin Brandenburg International School (BBIS), founded in 1990, is an inclusive, coeducational English language day and boarding school serving the internationally-minded community of Germany’s capital region and beyond. The BBIS campus is located in the village of Kleinmachnow, bordering the southwest of Berlin, on a large, quiet wooded hill known as the Seeberg.

BBIS offers an international education programme. An International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, BBIS is the first IB school in the world to be fully authorized by the International Baccalaureate organization in Geneva, Switzerland to teach all four IB programmes covering the 3 to19 year-old age range. The school is also fully accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).

From Early Childhood to grade 12, BBIS is truly an international school, with 680 students representing 60 nationalities. Classes are small, usually with fewer than 18 students. The school offers excellent facilities and an extensive extracurricular programme for students of all ages. In addition, specific support is provided for students with special needs and those for whom English is not a first language.

In grades 11 and 12 students have the opportunity to earn the IB Diploma, a qualification recognized by top universities throughout the world, or the IB Career-related Certificate, an exciting new professionally-oriented programme that, with a flexible and individualized curriculum, aims at helping students develop a broad range of career-related competencies.

The BBIS boarding facility, located directly on the school campus, houses 30 international students from grades 9 through 12. It is the first international, English-language IB World Boarding School in all of Germany.   For more details please visit www.bbis.de.”

St. George’s International School


St. George’s International School has been an integral part of the international community in Nordrhein-Westfalen since 1985 when it was founded by an English family in Cologne. Since then, St. George’s has founded further schools in Duisburg (2002) and Aachen (2007). With over 1000 pupils in its three schools, St. George’s success lies in its aim to offer children happy school years.

St. George’s provides a full school day for pupils aged 3 to 18 and incorporates all school years including Nursery School and Reception Classes, Early Years, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School until A-Level or IB diploma. Both diplomas are accepted world-wide for university entrance.

Individual support and attention are placed on pupils in regard to their native school system thereby enabling them to return smoothly to their native country’s system if necessary. 45 % of St. George’s student body is comprised of German pupils and the rest comes from 35 different nations; hence integration is not only theory but is practiced on a daily basis. A school uniform further enhances integration and solidarity between pupils. All children are introduced and immersed in traditions, holidays and history of the local German culture.

It is St. George’s aim to achieve the highest possible academic standard by means of small classes (maximum 20 pupils per class), a dedicated and enthusiastic staff and a positive atmosphere throughout the school. The student-teacher ratio of 7.5 to 1 allows for individual attention to be placed on each pupil’s specific need, for stronger and weaker pupils alike. Non English speakers are given extra support through the ESL department. The first foreign language taught is German which is divided into German for native speakers and German for non-native speakers; the second foreign language taught is French. After school clubs are offered on a regular basis.

More information on the programs can be found at:
www.stgeorgesschoolcologne.de
www.stgeorgesschoolduisburg.de
www.stgeorgesschoolaachen.de

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