A new school model for secondary education at Cologne International School

Individualized

Cologne International School is committed to providing our students with an individualized learning experience through a rigorous pursuit of excellence in learning in a culture of continuous improvement. 

Live life, love learning

As an IB World School, we are dedicated to promoting international-mindedness and a love of learning in a multicultural setting:

COLOGNE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

International SECONDARY SCHOOL

IB Diploma Programme

Allgemeine Hochschulreife

English

Grades 11 and 12

IB MYP candidate school

Hauptschulabschluss/Mittlerer Schulabschluss

English

Grades 6-10

To explore and fulfill the potential within ourselves
  • focus on skills that show students how they learn and make them independent learners
  • emphasis on developing good learning behaviour
  • coaching to support goal setting and reflection
  • pastoral and learning support; counselling
  • emphasis on positive student – teacher relationships
To connect with each other and our world
  • International mindset created by an international community
  • Innovative program with a holistic approach from grades 1 – 12
  • cloud-based learning platform
  • trips and exchanges
To make a positive impact on tomorrow
  • social projects
  • work experience
  • an environment dedicated to the values of the IB Learner Profile:
    • reflective
    • caring
    • open minded
    • risk-takers
    • principled
    • thinkers
    • knowledgeable
    • balanced
    • inquirers
    • communicators

    If you would like to find out more about our new model, please contact our admissions office.

    International Secondary School

    Grades 6-9

    IB MYP

    Grades 6-9

    GRADES 6-8

    IB MYP

    The MYP aims to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathize with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning.

    The programme empowers students to inquire into a wide range of issues and ideas of significance locally, nationally and globally. The result is young people who are creative, critical and reflective thinkers.

    Grade 10

    IGCSE

    Grade 10

    THE INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

    In Grades 9 and 10 students study for the University of Cambridge’s International General Certificates of Secondary Education (IGCSEs). This is an internationally recognized upper middle school qualification, granting students access to university preparation courses, such as the A levels, IB Diploma, or the Abitur in Germany.

    Our IGCSE programme ensures students follow a broad curriculum of subjects and are able to develop their skills in depth in each discipline.

    Students generally select 7-10 subjects, in which they will be assessed by an externally marked examination at the end of the programme.

    COMPULSORY SUBJECTS
    • English
    • Mathematics
    • Science
    • German
    • Global Perspectives
    • Physical Education
    OPTIONS
    • Physics, Biology, Chemistry
    • History, Geography
    • French, Spanish
    • Music, Art
    • Business Studies
    • Self-Managed Learning

    Grades 11-12

    Upper Secondary School

    IB Diploma

    Grades 11-12

    THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

    We value the broad range of subjects offered in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and believe that this programme provides young people with the knowledge, competencies and understanding required at university and beyond. Most of all, we are committed to developing the values promoted in the IB Learner Profile.

    The IBDP consists of three core components and six subject groups

    THE DIPLOMA CORE
    • Theory of Knowledge ensures that IB learners are thinking critically in all of their subjects
    • Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) helps students maintain a balance between academic study and their extracurricular lives
    • The Extended Essay enables students to develop the research skills required of university students
    THE SIX OPTION BLOCKS

    Students choose one subject from each block.

    Block 1 – English
    • English A: Language & Literature (Higher Level or Standard Level) – for students with a native speakers’ level
    • English B (HL) – a foreign language course (CEFR level B2)
    • Self-Taught, School-Supported Language A: Literature (SL)  – the student’s mother tongue
    Block 2 – Additional Language
    • German A: Language and Literature (HL or SL) – for students with a native speakers’ level
    • German B (HL or SL) – a foreign language course (CEFR levels B1 – B2)
    • German ab initio (SL) – a beginners’ German course (leading to CEFR level A2)
    • Spanish B (HL or SL) – a foreign language course (CEFR levels B1 – B2)
    • French B (HL or SL) – a foreign language course (CEFR levels B1 – B2)
    Block 3 – Individuals and Societies
    • History (HL or SL)
    • Geography (HL or SL)
    • Business Management (HL or SL)
    Block 4 – Sciences
    • Biology (HL or SL)
    • Physics (HL or SL)
    • Environmental Systems and Societies (SL only) – a transdisciplinary science/humanities course
    • Sports, Exercise & Health Science
    Block 5 – Mathematics
    • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (HL or SL)
    • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL or SL)
    Block 6 – Arts and Electives
    • Visual Arts (HL or SL)
    • Psychology (HL or SL)
    • Chemistry (HL or SL)
    • Music (HL or SL)
    • Computer Science

    Individualized Learning

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    To understand how each young person learns best, we build a comprehensive picture of their strengths, areas for development and preferred learning styles, which our teachers use to individualize learning.

    Throughout our school we utilize a range of learning and teaching styles – individual coaching, technology-integrated learning, group projects and independent study – to suit all types of learners. Because learning is a partnership, we provide families with frequent feedback points throughout the year, as well as conference time between teacher, student and parent.

    Empowering Education

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    A strong academic education is important, but knowing how to put it to good use is vital. We believe the best way to empower youth and young adults is by providing them with key skills for lifelong learning beyond the IB Diploma or Abitur: self-management, initiative, and ownership.

    Coaching, counseling and career guidance in the upper years of the secondary school further support students as they make important decisions about their future ambitions. The positive feedback we receive from alumni about their university and professional lives confirms that we’re on the right path.

    Values and Responsibilities

    Secondary School
    Following the ethos of the IB, we teach young people to look at the world around them and consider how they can become positive, active contributors to society.

    Throughout our secondary school, we focus on fostering shared values, such as communication, open-mindedness, reflection, and thoughtfulness. Our objective is to instill in our students a sense of responsibility to our community and to the greater world around them. While no one knows exactly what the future will bring, we can be confident that our students and alumni, as caring and mature global citizens, will be working hard to shape and brighten our common future.

    Holistic Approach

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    We understand school to be much more than just academics and qualifications – a quality education does not only focus on intellectual growth, but it fosters the development of the whole person. An exciting and enriching array of daily after-school activities, team-building and limit-testing class trips as well as myriad international and social action projects enhance private school life for our students.

    Our student council teaches the valuable, practical components of living in a democracy, giving students a voice in the school and an opportunity to bring about change. Additionally, our school counselor and Personal Social Health Education workshops help our youth and young adults navigate the new and complex challenges that often accompany this stage of their lives.

    More than 150,000 students worldwide take the IB Diploma, achieving an average score of 30 out of 45 points (as per the IB Diploma Programme Statistical Bulletin). We are extremely proud of our growing cohort of IBDP students at our International Secondary School and their exceptional results over the past five years – with an average pass rate of 90% – given our inclusive policy:
    Year Number of Diploma Candidates Average Diploma Score Highest Diploma Score
    2019 17 30 39
    2020 27 34 40
    2021 20 33 42
    2022 20 34 41
    2023 23 30 39

    See what a day at the secondary school looks like

    School Semester Calendar

    Extracurricular Program at our Secondary School

    Our extracurricular program offers a wide range of stimulating, challenging and fun activities for all of our students, from sports and music, to academic support and study time. We also strive to keep our gifted students challenged, by providing them with additional learning opportunities, such as debating competitions and the Maths Olympiad.

    15:30 – 17:00

    Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

    14:45 – 16:15

    Tuesday and Friday

    MUSIC

    • Learning about music in everyday life and pop culture
      From electronic to rock to usage in advertisements and computer games
    • Student-led projects and compositions
      A core element of our music curriculum is giving youth the framework to create and use music that’s interesting to them, from rap and musicals to advertisements and short films
    • Giving students a voice
      Through developing their vocal and instrumental skills, we help students use their creativity in a targeted manner to realize their ideas

    SPORT

    • State-of-the-art sports hall 
      Fully-equipped
    • Four hours of physical education per week  
      More than the state requirements for each year
    • Wide range of sports activities 
      Attractive team and individual sports in our extracurricular afternoon program

    ART

    • Student exhibitions
      Student exhibitions pay tribute to the success of all our aspiring artists throughout their school career
    • Museum visits
      We visit museums and exhibitions to experience art as a universal form of human expression
    • Aesthetic judgment
      With increasing artistic experience, our students learn to critically assess a wide variety of works and art forms

    Experience a day at our secondary school

    We are happy to invite any prospective student to a trial day, when they can visit lessons and meet some of our teachers and students. The trial day, which ends with a personal meeting with School Leadership, allows your child to get a real feeling for our school community.

    Career and University Counsellors

    University Destinations

    Canada
    University of Guelph (Real Estate Management)

    Germany
    Duales Studium (Bayer)
    Hasso Plattner Institute
    Technische Universität München
    RWTH Aachen University (Business Administration and Engineering, Computer Science)
    University of Cologne (Business Administration, Fine Arts, Medicine, Spanish)

    Finland
    University of Oulu (International Teacher Training)

    Hungary
    International Business School, Budapest (Hotel Management)

    Netherlands
    Maastricht University (Business Engineering)
    Tilburg University (International Sociology)
    TU Delft (Aerospace Engineering)
    University of Groningen (Psychology)

    Spain
    University of Alicante
    IE University in Madrid
    IE University in Segovia

    UK
    King’s College London (History, Liberal Arts)
    Richmond University (International Relations)
    School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
    University College London (Biomedical Science)
    University of East Anglia (Creative Writing)
    University of Greenwich (Psychology)
    University of London (International Relations)
    University of Northampton (Business Psychology)
    University of Southampton (International Relations)
    University of West London (Creative Writing, TV Production)
    University of Westminster (Architecture)

    USA
    Michigan State (Engineering, Liberal Arts)
    New York University (Biology)
    Toledo University, Ohio (Biomedical Science with a scholarship)
    University of Colorado Boulder

    Our Language Certificates

    CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH
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    COLOGNE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

    Internationale Friedensschule Köln GmbH

    Office Hours

    Monday - Friday
    08:00 - 12:30
    13:30 - 16:30

    SCHOOL OPENING TIMES

    during academic year

    Monday - Friday
    07:30 – 17:00
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