Accreditations & Memberships
Cologne International School has been granted membership to the Council of International Schools (CIS)
International Baccalaureate World School
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
Ministry for Education of the state NRW
We are an NRW state-approved private school. Our primary school and Gymnasium are official alternatives to public schools, teaching the local curricula and issuing fully-recognized qualifications within the requirements of the state system. Our international secondary school is a supplementary school, offering alternative curricula and qualifications.
Our school is a Cambridge International School, registered with Cambridge Assessment International Education, a department of the University of Cambridge. We are offering the Lower Secondary and the Upper Secondary (IGCSE) programmes for students aged 11-16 years. Cambridge International programmes inspire students to love learning, helping them discover new abilities and a wider world.
The Association of German Private Schools in NRW (VDP NRW e.V.) represents more than 220 private schools and educational institutions. The umbrella association and the ten independent state associations are committed to pluralism and quality-promoting competetition in education. It secures the fundamental right to choose between different pedagogical concepts, educational offers as well as providers.
The Association of German International Schools (AGIS) represents and supports the educational and public interest of member schools and their communities by promoting and improving international education. There are currently 23 full member schools who belong to AGIS which provides them with a professional support network in all matters relating to the successful management of international schools in Germany, in particular relations with the Federal Republic.
The European Solidarity Corps is a program of the European Union. It promotes cross-border voluntary engagement and internships throughout Europe, which benefit and strengthen the community. We are an accredited organisation, and can therefore host volunteers and interns through the Corps.
Our Language Certificates
Cambridge English Qualifications
We offer preparation courses for the Cambridge English Qualifications for Young Learners in every level, from KET (A2/beginners) through to CPE (C2/proficient). Our students have consistently enjoyed a very high success rate – scoring 12-15 points higher than the worldwide average – and tend to receive their language certificates at an earlier-than-average expected age.
Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE, Diplomas de Español Como Lengua Extranjera) are granted by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain. They are official, internationally recognized titles that certify the holder’s degree of fluency in Spanish. Cologne International School is the only accredited exam center for DELE young learners in the city of Cologne. We offer both the A1 and the A2/B1 exams.
Partnerships & Affiliates
-
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that aims to build shelters for families in need. Cologne International School supports Habitat for Humanity within the IBDP CAS program.
-
LESEPUNKTE (Reading Points) is an online review journal by and for young people online. The aim of LESEPUNKTE is to give young literary critics a space to develop, question and design their own standards of value. Interested students can publish their own reviews or articles, share their reading experiences and benefit from the assessments of other students.
-
Good debates are necessary for a lively democracy and a successful coexistence in our diverse society. Our secondary school has been participating in the Youth Debates competition since the 2011/12 school year.
-
As a World Schools’ member, we are recommended on the global listing of leading international and boarding schools.
-
The GeißbockAkademie promotes and supports the educational and personal training of talented soccer players. At the IFK/CIS, the young talents of 1. FC Köln benefit from individual care and blended learning opportunities.
-
Taxofit 1. Jugend-Fußball-Schule offers a range of children’s and youth soccer courses and programs, including for aspiring professional athletes.
-
We are developing an annual exchange program for our upper school students with Shanghai Hongrun Bouyan School.
- The Future Leaders Underprivileged Children Centre in Ghana is a charity that is dedicated to providing education to children whose parents cannot afford to take them to state schools. We have been supporting the Future Leaders UCC since 2014, both tutoring the children on our exchange program to Ghana, as well as through fundraising and donations.
- Children’s Hope in Cambodia is an organisation that collects money and other donations for children – and adults – in need in Cambodia. We support Children’s Hope through fundraising and donations. Once a year, Mr. Dieter Bullmann, the founder of the organization, visits our primary school to report about his activities.
-
We have had an annual exchange program with the SOS – Hermann Gmeiner International College in Tema, Ghana since 2015.