Primary School
Grades 1 to 4 following the “one teacher, one language” principle: lessons in German and French, based on the curricula of both countries.
A state-recognised school
The primary school is accredited (“homologuée”) by the French Ministry of Education and thus officially recognised by France. This accreditation secures the French educational mission for French families abroad.
Since 2001, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has recognised the primary school by contract as an “Ersatzschule” (state-recognised independent school). A mixed German-French teaching staff teaches according to both curricula. The French teachers report to the French “inspection pédagogique”, the German teachers to the local school authority.
Bilingual learning from grade 1 to 4
The “one teacher, one language” principle gives children a solid command of a second language and opens up the school systems of both countries. Lessons are taught in both languages, alternating between the whole class and language groups. Teaching in half-size classes is a high pedagogical priority for us. English starts in the second half of grade 1 with two 45-minute lessons per week.
To keep up, your child needs to be confident in at least one of the two languages at the start. For families who do not speak French at home, we recommend starting no later than Grande Section (final kindergarten year). This leaves one year of preparation for grade 1.
Primary school lasts four years, from grade 1 (CP) to grade 4 (CM1). At the end of grade 4, children receive a recommendation for secondary school in line with the rules of North Rhine-Westphalia. Our school has a partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Gymnasium.
Two curricula, one path
Teaching integrates the French curriculum and that of North Rhine-Westphalia across all grades. Bilingual education opens children’s eyes to both countries, their culture and landscapes, and gives them a sense of being European. Our goal: success in both languages, so children can continue in either school system.
Children from French families with no German receive special initial support: from September, for 12 weeks, they get separate German lessons five days a week from 7:40 to 8:10 a.m. A minimum of 3 participants is required. Additional support from parents is important.
Support alongside lessons
Learning support is a fixed part of the weekly timetable and takes place in German and French.
In class: during co-teaching lessons (“binôme” lessons), the French teacher supports non-German-speaking children or German-speaking newcomers in parallel with the German-language lesson.
Outside class: in small groups or one-to-one, focusing on oral and written language skills and maths, either short-term or over a longer period as needed. Parents are informed about how they can contribute.
