Curricula and Diplomas

In a rapidly changing society shaped by globalization, the liberalization of knowledge, and the breakneck speed of innovation cycles, education and preparation for life take on an ever greater importance. Intercultural understanding, critical thinking, problem-solving, language and communication skills, wide-ranging general knowledge, and the ability to think in an interdisciplinary manner are essential.

Berlin Metropolitan School offers an ideal framework for dealing with the challenges facing our children. Our goal is to prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century with the skill set, attitude and knowledge to become responsible, independent, critical-thinking members of society.

To this end, Berlin Metropolitan School has developed a modern, rigorous and coherent school program based on an approach rich with inquiry and transdisciplinary learning. We adopt the best international and national curricula to provide a high degree of flexibility for our students and their families. To best teach our children, we use modern methods along with an ambitious set of learning goals.

As an international school with high expectations, we have chosen the best international curricula from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and Cambridge University as well as the local framework of education, the Berliner Rahmenlehrplan. We are proud to be certified as an IBO World School, a Cambridge Exams Center and a state-recognized substitute school.

The continuity of our program from Kindergarten to Grade 12 is a key element for the learning success of our students. On the basis of a backward planning process, our curriculum is synchronized through all school departments to ensure both a smooth transition for children between the grades and a successful completion of diplomas.

We implement the Primary Years Curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 5. The foundation of this program is the inquiry based and transdisciplinary learning through six different Units of Inquiry. Our Preschool and Primary students succeed with this program, as it cultivates their natural curiosity for the Programme of Inquiry.

We combined the Primary Years Programme with the Berliner Bildungsprogramm for ages 3 to 6 and with the Berliner Rahmenlehrplan throughout the Primary Years to reflect the learning goals of our host country.

Starting in 6th Grade, we use the Cambridge Program as the foundation of our curricula. Grades 9 and 10 are intensive course programs, leading into the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) at the end of Grade 10. In addition, all students can take the MSA (Mittlerer Schulabschluss) as a German Equivalent. Both leaving certificates allow students to enter vocational training programs in Germany as well as abroad and serve as a means of testing the abilities of individual students, who aim to complete the IBDP in Grades 11 and 12.

Due to its demanding requirements, the Grade 11 and 12 IBDP is considered to be amongst the most comprehensive and, therefore, most respected secondary school curriculums. The best universities around the world welcome students with this educational background and an IB Diploma, as graduates are well prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

We see the responsibility of our teaching reaching beyond the borders of the classroom and strive to accomplish this by offering a challenging and fun whole-day school program. In the afternoon, we offer a Co-Curricula Educational Program until 6:00pm, where students can participate in clubs, workshops or simply play with their friends. The program is an essential component for a well-rounded education and gives each student the opportunity to discover talents or explore interests and hobbies.