International School in Berlin, Germany

Berlin Cosmopolitan School (BCS):
Berlin Cosmopolitan School (BCS) is an international school with a focus on sciences, sports and arts in the heart of Berlin. We offer Kindergarten and Preschool as well as Primary and Secondary School (Gymnasium), state authorized Primary School Nr. 01P22 & Secondary School Nr. 01P30. As a Candidate International Baccalaureate World School BCS follows the curriculum of the IB Programme. Students may graduate with an IB Diploma and/or a German Abitur. We encourage our students to become active and responsible citizens of the world. This includes strong academics, multilingualism and the development of social and intercultural skills.

The mission of Berlin Cosmopolitan School is to help students become enlighted and responsible citizens of the world, who will be able to confidently shape their own lives. We focus on academic achievement, multilingualism and the development of social and intercultural skills.

Individual education and a good academic, emotional, and physical balance are top priorities at BCS. We aim to prepare our students for the future by providing them with a solid foundation of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills as well as different methods of learning. Students at BCS become life long learners, who gain the knowledge and skills necessary to adjust and succeed in an ever-changing world.

As an all-day school, we offer a diverse and “all-inclusive” afternoon program, in which children can extend their learning experiences.

* English is the primary language of instruction, but German is mandatory.
* All-day learning from Kindergarten & Preschool, Primary and Secondary School
* Berlin State Curriculum
* International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years & IB Diploma Programme
*Secondary School currently offering Grades 7 - 8 and adding one grade level each year
* English as a Second Language Program
* German Lessons available at both native and second language level
* Afternoon Program until 6 pm
* Changing vacation program

There is care available from 7.30 until 18.00. However, the main educational part of the day is from 9.00 until 15.00. It is important that children arrive in time for morning circle, which starts at 9.00. The 3-6 year old children have periods during the week when they are free to choose between five focused rooms: The ABC room (literacy activities), the 123 room (number, shape, problem-solving and construction), Let’s Pretend (role play and music), the Art room (painting, drawing, modelling, etc), and the Discovery room (scientific investigation). The under-threes also have access to focused areas: a mark-making area, a malleable materials area, role play, music, construction, and a cosy book area.

We allow the children a large amount of self-determined time, as we know that they learn best when making choices and following their own ideas. Teachers support and observe children as they explore, “scaffolding” them. Exploration time gives the children access to a variety of resources, spaces, other children and adults. Teachers also make sure that all children take part in a variety of different activities so that they develop in all areas of the curriculum.

The focused rooms are adapted to enable the children to inquire into their PYP Unit during exploration time. Children also take part in creative dance, music and sport lessons, and the Preschool children have short, focused mathematics and literacy lessons twice a week, in small groups.

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) is the basis for the BCS curriculum as well as the Berlin State Curriculum (Berliner Rahmenplan). It was developed especially for international schools worlwide and leads up to the IB Diploma Programme. BCS currently has a "PYP candidate status“ at the IBO.

The PYP curriculum is based on the following:

International Awareness: The curriculum combines the most successful pedagogical concepts worldwide and enables students to change schools internationally without difficulty.

Inquiry-based Learning: The PYP is devoted to learning, building upon knowledge and experiences, developing the most appropriate learning methods and finding out about things one would like to know more about.

Integrated Thinking: Math, languages, art, sciences and social studies are taught by means of interdisciplinary themes in order for the students to recognize correlations

As an all-day school, we offer our students a wide variety of afternoon activities between 3 and 6pm. With the help of our teachers and specialists the children have the chance to develop their individual interests and talents. They can choose from the following:

Arts & Crafts; Ballet; Basketball; Chess; Cooking; Digital Animation; Digital Photography; Drama; Chinese; Choir; Electronic Music; Fashion; French; Football (Soccer); Lego City; Modern Dance; Robotics; Rockband; Spanish; Taekwondo; Yoga; Woodworking

The IB Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IB) and the Berliner Rahmenplan for Secondary Schools (Gymnasien) form the basis of the BCS curriculum. It has been specifically developed for international schools worldwide and leads  to the IB Diploma Programme at BCS. BCS is currently at the ‘PYP Candidate-Status’ stage of the IB.

BCS offers a curriculum based on the following:

International Awareness: The curriculum brings together the best educational principles from the whole world and offers students the opportunity to change international schools without problems.

Inquiry Based Learning: IB Diploma Programme is committed to learning based on the students’ knowledge and experience, emphasising how learning happens and how to discover answers themselves to things that they want to know.

Transdisciplinary Understanding: Mathematics, Languages, Art, Science and Social Studies are taught by means of multi-disciplinary units, so that the students are able to make connections.

The concept for BCS consists of eight significant pillars.

Individual Enhancement
Each child has his/her own unique strengths and weaknesses, requiring the syllabus to be individually developed to encourage and challenge him/her appropriately.

Familiar Surroundings
Due to our small size of 2 classes per grade and only 10-20 children per class, we are able to offer familiar surroundings in which children feel comfortable and safe.

Stress-free Learning
We create a learning environment where mistakes are part of the learning process and staff consciously devise opportunities for success.

Effective Learning
BCS students learn for themselves and for life – not just for the next test. In addition to acquiring skills the students focus on and knowledge, questioning, challenging and real understanding of a subject matter.

Methodological Competence
At BCS we focus on working and learning independently, resulting in each student developing strategies for how he/she works best and most effective.

Interdisciplinary Thinking
At BCS we advocate interdisciplinary teaching for students to be able to connect subject content with the wider world.

Many Learning Styles
The different learning styles and talents of students are appreciated, all regarded of equal value and accounted for in lesson planning and delivery.

Communication Skills
Not only do we want our children to communicate effectively in different languages, but they should also be proficient in a variety of media.

As an all-day school, we offer our students a wide variety of afternoon activities between 3 and 6pm. With the help of our teachers and specialists the children have the chance to develop their individual interests and talents. They can choose from the following:

Arts & Crafts; Ballet; Basketball; Chess; Cooking; Digital Animation; Digital Photography; Drama; Chinese; Choir; Electronic Music; Fashion; French; Football (Soccer); Lego City; Modern Dance; Robotics; Rockband; Spanish; Taekwondo; Yoga; Woodworking

During our holidays we also offer a changing, exciting and colorful vacation program based on students needs and wishes. Please note the different holidays.