A global education - a Bavarian community

An international school near Munich provides so much more than a quality education. For many expat children and parents it also provides a vital sense of belonging to a community.

Published: Thu 27 Oct 2011 12:06 CEST
A global education - a Bavarian community

The Bavarian International School is ‘home’ to 900 international students from 45 different countries. While it prides itself on providing top-quality education for children aged 4 to 18, it also helps parents and children alike to feel part of a caring and committed community of learners.

Nestled away into the grounds of the Haimhausen Schlosspark just twenty kilometres north of Munich lies the Bavarian International School (BIS).

Founded on September 7, 1990, by parents who wanted an alternative school in Munich for their children, BIS celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. It has expanded over the years and now has 900 students- aged from 4 to 18 - from 45 countries.

While BIS has proved popular with international children, it has been equally attractive to German families looking for an alternative school system with a more international environment.

“In the BIS community, we focus on international-mindedness - the ability to understand and respect different cultures,” says Director Bryan Nixon. “We want our students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”

Combining history and learning


Since 1998, the school has been located in the elegant and historic Schloss Haimhausen, a Baroque masterpiece built on the site of previous Schloss buildings dating back to 1281. While the castle has undergone several restorations over the years, its high ceilings, protected Rococo-style fresco in the chapel which was created in 1747, and beautiful Golden Room continue to be treasured by the school.

As an IB World School, BIS is accredited by the International Baccalaureate to teach both the Diploma Programme (Grades 11 and 12) and the Primary Years Programme (Pre- Reception to Grade 5). The school is also in the process of gaining accreditation from the International Baccalaureate for the Middle Years Programme (Grades 6 through 10).

In addition to the International Baccalaureate programmes, BIS offers the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) in Grades 9 and 10.

The academic programme covers an extensive range of subjects from science, technology and maths to languages and the arts.

Balancing academic and ‘other’ life skills

“We provide excellence in education,” says Bryan Nixon proudly. “Last year, 93.5% of our students were successful in the International Baccalaureate Diploma which is a very high percentage, well above the world average pass rate. In addition, due to a thorough and supportive University Guidance programme, each of our students was accepted by their university of choice.”

While excellent grades are, of course, important, Nixon believes “inspiring young minds” is just as essential. “We want the kids to be active in their learning, to encourage them to ask questions and come up with problems that need to be solved,” he explains. “Learning is more than academic and can be applied to all aspects of our lives.”

That’s why BIS also places a strong focus on its After School Activities Programme. The school has facilities such as a sports hall, a six-lane running track, football fields, music rooms and drama/theatre areas, and the Schlosspark itself provides a wonderful natural ambiance.

In the past five years, the school has invested over EUR 14 million in a new purpose-built Lower School building, a new cafeteria and library complex, modern music rooms and a track and field facility. In addition BIS has restored the chapel and invests in regular maintenance to preserve the Schloss.

“Our Campus Development Plan envisions further building plans for the next ten years, such as a new sports hall,” says Nixon, adding that the school competes with other international schools at various sports events.

BIS: at the heart of the community


One thing that is firmly at the core of the Bavarian International School is the concept of community.

“At BIS we want to create a community of learners,” says Nixon. “Everyone should feel that the education process is about learning and that we all have a part to play in this process.”

To this end, BIS is committed to providing service to others through a very active community and service programme. Some of the older students teach English to German children in the village of Haimhausen and engage in other social programmes with partners such as refugee camps and homes for the disabled and elderly.

This feeling of community is extended to the children’s parents.

“Many expat parents tell us that the sense of belonging to a community is important. If you do not speak German it is difficult to integrate into the local society at first. Our families want to belong to a community as soon as they arrive in Germany and that’s what we offer here.”

Parents, meanwhile, are offered online language programmes to help them learn German and other languages, yoga sessions and there is a Bavarian Business Community that meets at the school three or four times a year. There are also coffee mornings, cultural events, hiking trips etc.

“We always contact new parents through our welcome committee, usually in the family’s mother tongue. It’s all important to help them feel part of our community from the very beginning,” concludes Nixon.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also