Berlin British School is one of the best known English medium options among the international schools in Berlin. It opened to its first pupils in September 1994, the earliest independent British school in the city, and now teaches children from nursery through to the sixth form across its sites in the west of the capital. Families choosing it are usually weighing a British style education that keeps a child on track for IGCSE and the IB Diploma against the bilingual German and IB schools elsewhere in Berlin.
Berlin British School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB Primary Years Programme, Cambridge IGCSE, German MSA, IB Diploma Programme |
|---|---|
| Stages | Age 3 to 18 (Early Years, Primary, Secondary, sixth form) |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Accreditation | IB World School (PYP and DP); accredited by COBIS and CIS |
| Language | English medium with German taught throughout |
| Fee band | Mid to upper (tuition roughly EUR 12,000 in early years rising to about EUR 24,000 in the senior years, 2025 to 2026 indications) |
| Campus area | Charlottenburg, west Berlin (multiple sites) |
Curriculum and academics
The early years and primary school follow the IB Primary Years Programme, blended with the English Early Years Foundation framework and the Berliner Bildungsprogramm so that children meet both international and Berlin expectations. The inquiry led approach runs from nursery upward and teaching is in English, with German built in daily so that pupils grow up able to function in both languages. This blend is the school's signature and the reason mobile English speaking families shortlist it.
At secondary level the school moves onto Cambridge IGCSE, sat alongside the German Mittlerer Schulabschluss, before the IB Diploma Programme in the final two years. The IGCSE and IB Diploma route keeps options open for universities in the United Kingdom, Germany and worldwide, which suits families who do not yet know where a child will sit final exams. For the wider picture of how this compares with other English language systems in the city, see our guide to the British curriculum and how it works abroad. English as an Additional Language support is available for children still building academic English.
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Berlin British School fees
Berlin British School fees place it in the mid to upper part of the international school fees in Berlin landscape, above the city's bilingual not for profit schools but below the most expensive English language campuses. Published indications for 2025 to 2026 point to annual tuition of roughly EUR 12,000 in the early years, climbing through the primary and secondary years to around EUR 24,000 at the top of the school. These are indicative bands rather than a line by line quote, so confirm the current figure for your child's year group with the admissions office.
Budget beyond tuition for the standard extras. The school applies a development fee of about 2 per cent of annual tuition each year, used for buildings and infrastructure, and offers a sibling discount of 2.5 per cent from the second child where families are not already on a scholarship or bursary. Registration and assessment charges, lunch, trips, external examination entries for IGCSE and the IB Diploma, and any optional bus or after school care sit on top. Income related fee support and scholarships exist, so families on tighter budgets should ask the school directly rather than assume the headline band applies.
Admissions
Admission runs year round. The school accepts applications at any point and assesses each child as places come free rather than against a single annual deadline, with the largest intake aligned to the August start of the school year. Parents begin by arranging a visit to the relevant site, after which the school typically offers a short trial visit so teachers can get to know the child, judge the right year group and gauge any language support needs.
Because places in popular year groups fill, families relocating to Berlin are wise to make contact early and join a waiting list where a year is full. The school asks for recent school reports and may request references. Entry into the sixth form is discussed individually, with the IB Diploma subject choices confirmed during the admissions conversation. Overseas families should allow time for the German residence and registration steps that sit alongside any school place.
Location and who goes there
The school is based in Charlottenburg in the west of Berlin, a settled, green and well connected part of the city that has long drawn diplomatic, corporate and academic families. Its sites are reachable by the city's U-Bahn and S-Bahn network and by bus, and the surrounding districts of Charlottenburg, Westend and Grunewald are among the areas where English speaking families most often settle.
The community is genuinely international, led by British and other English speaking families but with a broad mix of European, North American and other nationalities, plus local German families who want an English medium education for their children. The school is small enough to feel like a community rather than an institution. For a fuller view of where international families live and which other schools sit nearby, return to the Berlin city hub.
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Berlin British School fees?
Berlin British School sits in the mid to upper band of the Berlin market. Published indications for 2025 to 2026 put annual tuition at roughly EUR 12,000 in the early years rising to about EUR 24,000 in the senior years. A 2 per cent development fee applies on top of tuition each year, and a sibling discount of 2.5 per cent is offered from the second child. Confirm the current schedule with the admissions office.
What curriculum does Berlin British School follow?
The primary school follows the IB Primary Years Programme blended with the English Early Years framework and the Berliner Bildungsprogramm. The secondary school leads to Cambridge IGCSE and the German MSA, with the IB Diploma Programme in the sixth form.
Is Berlin British School an IB World School?
Yes. Berlin British School is an authorised IB World School for both the Primary Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme, and it is accredited by the Council of British International Schools and the Council of International Schools.
When do Berlin British School applications open?
The school accepts applications year round and assesses them as places come free, with the main intake aligned to the August start of the school year. Families arrange a tour and the school offers a short trial visit so staff can place the child in the right year group.
Is Berlin British School a good school for English speaking families?
It is one of the longest established English medium schools in the city, founded in 1994, and teaches in English throughout while building German alongside. That makes it a common shortlist choice for British and other English speaking families relocating to Berlin, though parents should visit and compare before deciding.
