From Year 5 to 10, our students enjoy a dedicated space that fosters stability and a strong sense of community. For the upper school, we’ve created an exclusive floor designed to meet the unique needs of these important years. The inspiring environment of our Phorms secondary school not only prepares your child for Abitur but also provides room for personal growth, encouraging them to thrive academically and individually.
Starting from Year 7, language-enthusiastic students can join our secondary school, even if they are not yet bilingual. We provide targeted support to help them meet academic requirements and integrate smoothly into our community.
For Year 8 and beyond, entry is particularly suitable for students with experience in English-speaking countries, allowing them to transition seamlessly into our bilingual environment. Together, we equip your child with the skills and confidence needed for a successful and globally connected future."
In the middle school, subjects like German, Art, History, and Sports are taught in German, while English, Mathematics, Science, and Geography are taught in English by native-speaking teachers. This balanced approach ensures our students are well-prepared for upper school. Additionally, our bilingual programme includes extra lessons in Social Studies and Science, further enriching their education.
From primary school onward, our immersion method allows students to acquire language naturally through real-life situations. At secondary school, learning is evenly balanced between German and English, enabling students to develop subject-specific vocabulary in both languages with ease.
At Phorms, students experience bilingualism every day, with German and English equally used as languages of instruction. Starting in Year 7, they can further expand their language skills by choosing Spanish or French as additional foreign languages.
We provide your child with a varied and personalised programme designed to optimise their learning experience. This includes dedicated study time, the revolving door model, and participation in exciting competitions. A broad selection of after-school clubs further allows students to explore and develop their interests and talents.
In addition, your child can benefit from extensive career and study guidance services, helping them shape and realise their plans for their further educational journey.
We encourage students to independently explore broader topics through excursions, museum visits, expert interviews, and creative projects. This approach helps them view subjects from multiple perspectives and develop engaging presentations.
Teamwork plays a central role in our educational philosophy, promoting social skills, responsibility, and self-organisation. Across all subjects—including sports—teamwork is actively encouraged to inspire collaboration, mutual support, and shared success.
Our classrooms are equipped with interactive smartboards that allow for writing, drawing, and internet access, seamlessly integrating technology into the learning process. Each student has access to a laptop for tasks such as writing, researching, calculating, and creating presentations. These tools not only enhance the learning experience but also help develop essential media skills - and our students truly enjoy the hands-on use of technology in their studies.
The "Digital class 10" initiative promotes individualised learning, improves the visualisation of complex content, and strengthens students' media literacy by using digital devices. The programme has expanded to include Microsoft Surface devices in Grade 5 and mandatory ThinkBooks in Year 7. With standardised digital tools and comprehensive ICT lessons, students benefit from consistent usage and training. New IT resources and optimised workspaces further enhance the digital learning environment, ensuring a forward-thinking, effective education for all.
Our school is state-approved for the upper secondary school level, allowing students to earn the Abitur, Germany’s general higher education entrance qualification, right here on our Berlin Mitte campus.
We also offer the Cambridge Advanced English Certificate (CAE) exam, which certifies English proficiency at C1 level. Recognised worldwide, the CAE opens doors to international study and career opportunities.
In January, we offer one-on-one counselling sessions for our high school graduates to explore potential training and study options. Students are encouraged to bring their questions and topics of interest. Prior to the session, they complete the Check-U test, which is assessed by our contacts at the Federal Employment Agency. This test evaluates skills, social competencies, career preferences, and interests, serving as preparation for the Study Field-Based Guidance Test (SFBT).
In collaboration with the Employment Agency, Year 12 students can participate in the Study Field-Based Guidance Test (SFBT). This test assesses their aptitude for specific fields of study, including Natural Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science/Mathematics, Economics, Philological Studies, and Law. A psychologist reviews the results with the students, offering valuable insights to aid in their decision-making process.
Before graduating, we hold personalised discussions to help students shape their future educational journey. Our dedicated advisor supports them in defining clear goals and provides tailored recommendations. If needed, the Employment Agency offers additional assistance, ensuring every student leaves school with a well-defined perspective and pathway forward.
In Grade 10, students participate in a two-week work placement, providing valuable insight into the professional world. This experience allows them to explore company processes, expand their knowledge, and better define their career interests and future educational paths.
We provide students with regular updates through our MS Teams channel, Career Counselling. This platform delivers curated information, such as the Employment Agency newsletter and opportunities from universities and institutions, ensuring students stay informed and focused on relevant resources.
In October, we kick off careers guidance for upper school students with the event with the event Wege nach dem Abitur. This session introduces students to our contacts from the Employment Agency, who offer valuable insights into study and career options, along with guidance on navigating the diverse range of training and study opportunities.
Every November, we attend the Einstieg Berlin trade fair together, giving students a chance to explore options for training, higher education, and gap year opportunities.
In December, we organize the Parents' Career Information Day, where parents give personal insights into their professions. Students in Years 11 and 12 can attend three different presentations in which professions such as doctors, civil servants, CEOs and engineers are presented. This day helps young people to gain authentic insights, better understand occupational fields and develop realistic career goals.
From Year 5, students from Phorms primary school with a strong drive to achieve can join our unique bilingual science-focused secondary school. This programme combines the nurturing environment of a primary school with the academic challenges of a secondary school, ensuring each student’s talents are supported to their fullest potential.
Discover an inspiring learning environment designed to build on and develop the scientific and mathematical strengths of every individual!
With a bilingual and scientific approach, our students dive into the exciting worlds of Science and Mathematics - taught in English! Through additional lessons, engaging excursions, and hands-on experiments in our state-of-the-art laboratory, we inspire a love of discovery and experimentation. Students develop scientific thinking, take part in mathematical competitions, and prepare themselves for a globalised future.
In our secondary school we offer one exclusive class per year group, with a maximum of 24 students. From Year 5 to 10, these students benefit from a specialised programme in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
While receiving an intensive focus on STEM subjects, they also experience all the advantages of our broader secondary school curriculum from Grade 7 onwards. By combining targeted STEM support with a holistic secondary education, we provide the perfect foundation for future excellence in science, technology, and research.
Primary school students who start our secondary school in Year 5 benefit from staying within their familiar environment. They continue to learn in the same surroundings and enjoy playtime with their former classmates during breaks, ensuring a sense of continuity and security that makes the transition to secondary school much even smoother. Additionally, our youngest secondary school students enjoy free lunch, a benefit available to all primary school students in Berlin.
Our all-day programme provides students in Years 5 and 6 with structured and engaging supervision until 15:45. While after-school care is not offered, the children spend their afternoons learning, experimenting, and playing in a stimulating environment.
After 15:45, they can participate in the wide range of extracurricular activities offered by our regular secondary school. These activities allow them to delve deeper into their interests and connect with older students, fostering both their academic growth and social integration within the school community.
In middle school, the focus is on providing a comprehensive secondary school education. The curriculum is progressively expanded to include specialised natural and social sciences, as well as additional courses on career guidance, conflict resolution, and learning opportunities outside the classroom.
By the end of middle school, our students are fully prepared to meet the academic demands of upper secondary school.
Bilingualism is a daily experience for our students, with English and German equally emphasised as languages of instruction. Starting in Year 7, students also begin learning an additional foreign language, choosing between Spanish and French.
Subjects taught in German: German, Art, History, Political education, Ethics, Sport, and Spanish (as a second foreign language).
Subjects taught in English: English, Music, Mathematics, Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Geography.
In Years 9 and 10, students can choose Music or Art as compulsory elective subjects, offering them the chance to explore and develop their creative talents further.
In Year 9, students embark on memorable international experiences: Spanish learners participate in a student exchange in Barcelona, while French learners enjoy a cultural trip to France, exploring its lifestyle and history. These programs enhance language skills, broaden perspectives, and foster international awareness—creating lasting impressions.
In Year 10, students complete a two-week work placement. They are encouraged to find placements independently but can access support from the school if needed. These internships help students explore career interests and ease the transition from school to the professional world.
We offer an engaging extracurricular programme where students can explore new leisure activities, uncover hidden talents, and further develop their existing skills.
Our secondary school provides a comprehensive general education, guided by the Berlin requirements for the "certificate of general higher education entrance qualification," or Abitur. The curriculum in the upper school increasingly emphasises preparation for the Abitur examinations, with a slightly greater focus on German to meet examination requirements.
At Phorms Secondary School Berlin Mitte, we fully embrace and uphold our bilingual concept through to the end of upper school. Several subjects are taught in English and can also be taken as examination subjects in the Abitur.
In the upper school, students specialise in subjects they are passionate about and wish to pursue further. Our current advanced courses include English, history, biology, mathematics, art, geography, and German. Additionally, we offer a music ensemble course for students interested in musical collaboration.
In addition to the core subjects - mathematics, German, English, and a foreign language - and the chosen advanced courses, students have a wide range of elective options.
According to the training and examination regulations, students complete a total of 40 courses (10 per semester), including:
∙ Two advanced courses (8 courses across 4 semesters)
∙ One basic course in sport (4 courses across 4 semesters)
∙ 28 basic courses distributed over 4 semesters
To help students prepare for their further educational journey, we offer a variety of study and career guidance programmes, including:
∙ The Wege nach dem Abitur event
∙ The Career Counselling information channel
∙ Parents’ Career Information Day
∙ A visit to the Einstieg Berlin trade fair for training, studies, and gap years
∙ Individual counselling sessions tailored to their future goals
The children are taught their respective subjects.
To ensure a balanced and healthy diet, our regional organic caterer prepares fresh meals daily, offering students delicious and nutritious options. We have staggered break times for our secondary school students.
The children are taught their respective subjects.
Our dedicated teachers provide a diverse range of extracurricular activities, offering students numerous opportunities to explore and develop their talents and interests.
We take great pride in our two state-of-the-art sports halls, which provide excellent facilities for a wide variety of sporting activities. Equipped with the latest technology, each hall offers flexible spaces for different sports and physical activities.
These spacious halls not only encourage physical fitness but also foster a strong sense of community among our students. Under the professional guidance of our dedicated sports teachers, every activity becomes a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
At our school, democracy is not just a subject - it’s a lived experience. From electing the Student School Representative to the active involvement of Student Representatives in school decision-making, our students play a meaningful role in shaping their community.
Through junior elections, we give students the chance to engage with democratic processes firsthand, fostering an understanding of their importance for society and encouraging active citizenship.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) supports young people in over 130 countries in their personal growth and development. The programme encourages participants to set their own goals and challenges across four key areas: Volunteering, Physical Fitness, Talents, and Expedition.
Our students who decided to participate in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme dedicate time to each area weekly for three months, tracking their progress and achievements. A highlight of the programme is the independently planned and executed two-day expedition, where students navigate routes and prepare their own meals, fostering independence, resilience, and teamwork.
We actively encourage and support our students to participate in prestigious competitions, particularly in Mathematics and Science. Their outstanding achievements, especially in Mathematics, consistently earn recognition and highlight both the quality of our educational support and the exceptional potential of our students.
At our school, we cultivate a positive and inclusive environment through team-building activities, regular consultation hours, and a virtual student café on Microsoft Teams.
Our dedicated social worker plays a key role in supporting your child and their class. Through interactive games and exercises, they strengthen collaboration and foster a positive atmosphere. They also facilitate the class council as a platform for open exchange and organise workshops that promote personal growth and social development—building a school community rooted in both knowledge and values.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, students at our secondary school can address their personal concerns during the social worker's office hours. All conversations are treated confidentially, and together, we work to find practical solutions.
Our social worker has established a welcoming virtual student café - a safe and comfortable space for young people to connect, share ideas, and feel at ease. Here, topics that matter to their lives are regularly discussed, fostering meaningful conversations and a sense of community.
