International Schools Bonn

Hi everybody after the turbulant start yesterday I thought I'd start with a relatively tame first Topic. My girlfriend and I are planning on having a child in the near future (well ok in at least 9 ish months) and having experienced the normal standard of schools here (I have 2 kids from a previous marriage who live with my ex in Hamburg) I would like to look at alternatives. Now as I live in Bonn I have heard of the International school there and I believe some of the teachers lurk around on this board. Could anyone provide me with any information as to the standard of teaching, costs etc etc to be found there bearing in mind it will include pre-school. Cheers Fuchs66 (the artist formerly known as Beelzebub)

I am awe of you planning your childs schooling before it has even been conceived!!

I made the mistake the first time round of relying on what I believed to be an acceptable school system I've learnt a lot since then. I dont want detailed information just something I can start roughly planning.

The school starts right at the beginning withe the "Early Learning Centre", then Kindergarten, primary and secondary school, following the International Baccalaureat all the way through.

We currently operate on a spilt site, but will be moving into a brand spanking new building in January 2006.

More info: Bonn International School

Lets hope there's lot more people like you out there - if they get enough new students maybe they'll give me a full-time job...

The standard of teaching is, naturally, excellent!

Thanks for that I've seen the site and it seems good, how are the fees there? I sent off an e-mail enquiry but after 2 weeks no response.

I never really doubted the standard of teaching just trying to provoke responses again

Don't know why they keep their fees such a big secret, other International school happily display theirs on their websites. They will probably be in line with these if this helps:

Frankfurt
http://www.fis.edu/admissions_fees.html

Munich
http://www.mis-munich.de/resources/PDF%20F...05_fees_eng.pdf

Berlin
http://www.bbis.de/content/general/fees.php

Start Saving!

Not being a parent, I don't know exactly how much it costs. In the staff room the figure of about 10 grand gets bandied about (so you can see the difference a few more students would make...).

The other international school in Bonn does provide information about fees on its website.

IBIS

For school aged children (not pre-school) the fees can be offset against tax.

If you are interested in serious discussion about the quality of german schools you might find some previous threads on this subject worth reading.

Thanks for that everyone I'll be researching over the next couple of weeks, I was particularly interested in the International School as I've heard so many good things said about it and I would be happy for my kids to grow up in a truely international surrounding (one of the reasons I like Bonn) I will of course be looking at alternatives. As far as State Schools go I've had experience through my first 2 kids and havnt been impressed (although will accept there are probably exceptions) and will listen to the case put forward on their behalf. Cheers now its pack up and off for a long weekend see you all monday.

The BEST and I mean, BEST, international school in the area is St. Georges School. Its an English language/English education school located in Cologne, Duisberg and I think they have new schools coming to Bonn and Dortmund this fall.

They have the highest academic ranking, are internationally accredited, and go from pre-kindergarten through to Arbitur (sic), A-Level, International Bacc.

Take a look, their website address is: www.stgeorgesschool.de

My wife and I are considering an employment opportunity that would require moving our family (3 year old and 9 year old children) later this year from the US to east of Dortmund for 2-3 years.

We're specifically searching for an English language school in the Dortmund area.

A previous post mentioned the possibility of a branch of the St. George's British School opening later this year in Dortmund.

We would appreciate any additional comments regarding this possibility.

Thank you.

Actually they are not accredited at all. They are not monitored by any of the well-known councils for international schools (ECIS, CIS to name just two) and have the highest staff turnover I've ever seen in a school. Maybe they are good for the kids but what I know of the place would make me think twice. And that's as a teacher.

Would be interested to know why you think they are coming to Bonn this autumn...

For what it's worth to those looking, Bonn has two good schools, BIS and IBIS and I have heard that a brand new international school is planned for Cologne.

Update:

St George's is not opening in Bonn nor Dortmund. They are however opening this August in Aachen. They have just been given licence to teach international IB at secondary level but are still not checked out by any of the international school councils.

Also opening in Cologne is Phorms (also in Munich) and another international school. There were plans for yet another international school in Cologne this year but they have been put back a year until Aug 2008.

Plenty of choice this year in Cologne!