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Educational Concept


At Berlin Bilingual Secondary School, we value students as individuals and integral members of a community. They are taught to be active and reflective learners, focusing not only on what to learn, but how to learn. 

Students are guided by teachers who are passionate learners themselves. This creates an environment where continual progress takes preference over exclusively concentrating on ‘successful’. Of course, we measure progress by standards, but our students take pride in their personal development no matter what their level of achievement. While standards are set high for all students, we fully respect and embrace individual needs. 

Learning is the beating heart of our school, be it in the classroom, the science laboratory or the music room, at the printing press, on the school yard or in the cafeteria. We create an environment that nurtures a life-long love of learning, preparing students for an ever-changing world.

Duales Lernen

At BBS, we understand that practical and contextual opportunities enrich learning. Therefore, the Duales Lernen programme is integrated into the curriculum as a workshop. This lets students put their own knowledge and skills into practice within the professional workplace.

The programme starts with students exploring different roles in the workplace of our Primary School. Through hands-on experience and preparing a reflective portfolio, students experience school from the perspective of people who work there: from workers in the classroom to the kitchen and garden. 

The parent-led ‘Library Workshop’ also promotes work-based learning. Students are trained and guided in the self-organisation of the Secondary School library, and assist in the running of the Primary School library.  

In the second half of the programme, students are suppored in applying for monthly or bi-monthly work placements in local community organistaions. This provides them with diverse working knowledge. 

Further opportunities for experience in the professional workplace:

  • Since 2015, all students participate in a ‘work experience’ day. They are given individual help in choosing and organising placements.
  • Students in Grade 9 will additionally take part in a two-week Betriebspraktikum  

Supporting learning: House system

Berlin Bilingual Secondary School has a house system to support the continued personal and social development of students.

This system provides students the opportunity to discuss issues with house tutors, as well as giving them time and space to engage in a range of mixed-age activities.
Two designated members of staff – overseen by the Student Wellbeing Coordinator – coordinate the weekly activities. The team regularly review these activities and topics and ensure that they are relevant for students’ growth and personal development. 

Pastoral care

We define pastoral care as the holistic approach to meet the personal, social, emotional and intellectual needs of every student, and we believe it is essential for a safe, happy and productive school. 

To aid with this we employ a part-time School Counsellor (Vertrauenslehrer). The Berlin Bilingual School counsellor's role is to:

  • Support the school in its aim to be a safe learning environment by supporting individual students or groups of students who are having social/emotional problems.
  • Link families/students to community resources and services by providing information about support services available.

Support students through their pain, loss and anxiety and their triumphs, joys and victories.

 

Pastoral care ensures that each student can participate fully and get the most out of what school has to offer.

Personal Development

The role of a secondary school is not just to provide opportunities for academic learning. At Berlin Bilingual Secondary School, we focus on the holistic development of our students so they are well prepared for adult life. Many aspects of daily life, the basis of who we are and how we relate to others, cannot be 'taught' in specific subjects. For this reason, students spend one lesson a week following a Personal Development course which concentrates on social and emotional elements, the transition into adulthood and the road that lies ahead.