Our teachers are native speakers, delivering their lessons through the immersion method. At least half of the lessons in primary and secondary school are taught in English. At the same time, we also attach great importance to good quality teaching in German. Therefore, the alphabet is first taught in German.

Our teachers foster and support individual children by providing regular small-group teaching within lessons. Our Special Needs/Learning Support Programme assists children who need to catch up in a core subject such as English, reading, writing or numeracy. Additionally, teaching assitants are there to give individual support and instructions wherever needed.

Starting in Year 5, students are offered Spanish and French* as elective subjects. In Year 7, Spanish is officially introduced as second foreign language. Additionally, French can be selected as an elective starting in Year 9.
*subject to availability

We aim not to have more than 24 students in each class.

Class size usually varies between 14 and 24 students.

Besides their class and specialist teachers, each primary school class has their own teaching assistant.

All our classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards which can be written on and which teachers and students can use for Internet research and to run applications. In addition to this, each student has access to a laptop and learns how to use the computer to write texts, carry out research, perform calculations and give presentations both in IT lessons and across other subjects.

All our students in upper secondary school have the possibility to sit for the Cambridge Advance English Certificate exam (CAE).

In the 2016/2017 school year, our first seven Phorms students took the CAE exam and were awarded with a Cambridge Advanced English Certificate. Five of them achieved C1 level English and two even received C2 level certificates.

Primary school students are usually not assigned homework but might finish projects or do some additional research at home. Beginning in seconday school, homework is an integral part of everyday teaching.

In the 2016/2017 school year, our first seven Phorms students took the CAE exam and were awarded with a Cambridge Advanced English Certificate. Five of them achieved C1 level English and two even received C2 level certificates.

Teaching assistants as well as a Special Educational Needs Programme, and Student Support Services available.

Individual evaluation and assessments to determine strengths and weaknesses; individual learning support and pastoral care.

Individual evaluation and assessments to determine strengths and talents; extra assignments in small working groups for gifted and talented students.

We have a school psychologist who also leads the Student Support Services Department.

Each child needs to go through our admission process which differs depending on the grade applied for.

During the testing for Year 1, the children solve age-appropriate tasks and play with other children of the same age whilst being supervised by our staff. If applying for a spot in a higher primary school grade, the children visit the respective class for a three to five day trial period and participate in the regular school day. During that time, parents also have an interview with our Head of Primary School, discussing their family, aims for their child and a possible cooperation with the school.
Secondary school applicants have to hand in their last three report cards. After reviewing them, we invite the child for an admission test in the core subjects (English, Mathematics, and German), and schedule an interview with our Head of Secondary School and/or organise trial days in the respective class.

Depending on the year group and current demand of school spots, we work with waiting lists.

There is no registration deadline.

As long as there are school spots are available, we accept new students at any time throughout the school year.

School ususally starts at 8.30.

Primary school students finish at 15.30, secondary school students finish between 15.00 and 16.40 depending on their grade.

Supervision of primary school children begins at 7.30 and continues after lessons until 18.00 on all school days. The students are looked after by our qualified teaching staff at the school and, as a result, they encounter familiar faces and processes. Our school’s conceptual framework is consistently carried over into the extracurricular programme.

Communal eating is an important part of our school philosophy. Our catering partner offers a wide range of natural and healthy meals which are prepared with certified organic products. Students can choose between two different lunch meals each day. In addition to the lunch meal, our students get a school milk, a morning and afternoon snack.

Our caterer considers if students cannot eat certain foods due to health or religious reasons.

School clothing strengthens the sense of community and improves the learning environment and social climate. Therefore, Phorms has made it mandatory to wear school uniform tops (t-shirts, polo shirts, jackets, sweaters etc.) and sports clothing. Students are free to determine the rest of their clothing items themselves in accordance with the local rules of the school. This enables us to bridge the gap between a uniform appearance, a shared school culture, and an individual’s freedom of choice.

In the afternoons, primary school children are invited to follow their interest and explore their talents. Our afternoon programme offers different activities every day. Clubs, led by our educators, can be attended free of charge by using the Hort voucher (Hortgutschein). Be it chess, drumming, art, football (soccer), basketball or choir – our afternoon programme caters for all tastes and talents. In addition to those clubs, we maintain cooperations with a variety of external partners. They offer activities led by qualified teachers or trainers which often take place on our campus and are available at an extra charge. Currently, the following offers can be booked: ballet, jazz dance, yoga, tennis, Chinese, sailing, jiu-jitsu, aikido and various instrumental lessons.
At the beginning of each school year, our secondary school offers a variety of working groups. The selection ranges from Spanish Culture, to Choir, Orchestra, Theatre, Creative Writing, Jogging, and Mathematics. Once a week, the working groups meet and do Sports, sing, make music or calculate together or talk about Spanish culture.

Besides regular sports lessons that cover areas like gymnastics, track and field and ball games, we offer additional clubs as part of the afternoon programme. Those may include football, jogging, yoga, dance and jiu-jutsu. Aditionally we have a basketball programme with our co-operation partner ALBA BERLIN.

Our school takes part in various sports competitions, e.g. track and field or basketball events.

We are very proud of our three state-of-the-art gyms which are used for various sport activities.

Our private school offers a bilingual community in German and English for children and young people from nursery and primary school to secondary school. We are housed in an attractive red-brick building in central Berlin which dates from the late 19th century. Directly opposite our building is Gartenplatz square which provides a green area, a playground and a soccer field. We make use of this valuable space whenever possible to play, relax or do open-air teaching.
We seek to maintain a cosmopolitan, warm and welcoming environment. Our children at the nursery, educators, students, teachers and parents very much enjoy the open and friendly atmosphere we have created.

Language plays a key role within our educational concept and our campus attaches great importance to providing a high degree of support in both German and English. Our pedagogues are native speakers and teach our children the two languages according to the so-called immersion method. Each pedagogue speaks exclusively in his or her native language of either English or German. This enables the children to learn both languages within a natural context via the morning circle, at meals and through songs, stories and games. Our daily routine reinforces language acquisition.