Phorms Campus Berlin is one of the better known bilingual options among the international schools in Berlin. Part of the Phorms Education group, it built its reputation on a German and English immersion model that aims for real fluency in both languages rather than English taught as a foreign subject. The Berlin Mitte campus opened in 2006 and now teaches a large all day community from kindergarten to the Abitur, and a second campus, Phorms Berlin Sued, serves the south west of the city. Together they make a continuous bilingual path from the early years to university entrance.
Phorms Campus Berlin at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Bilingual German and English immersion on the Berlin framework curriculum; bilingual Abitur, with AP certificates and the Cambridge Advanced English certificate in upper secondary |
|---|---|
| Stages | Kindergarten and primary through to secondary and the Abitur |
| Founded | Berlin Mitte campus opened 2006 |
| Accreditation | State recognised private school (Ersatzschule) within the Phorms Education group; Abitur awarded under Berlin rules |
| Campuses | Berlin Mitte and Berlin Sued (Steglitz Zehlendorf) |
| Fee band | Income scaled; monthly fees roughly 118 to 698 euro depending on stage and household income |
| Campus area | Mitte, central Berlin, and Steglitz Zehlendorf in the south west |
Curriculum and academics
Teaching follows the Berlin framework curriculum but is delivered through a bilingual immersion method, so children meet both German and English across the timetable from kindergarten onward rather than treating one as a language lesson. The intention is that pupils leave able to study and work confidently in either language, which suits both German families wanting a strong English education and international families who want their child to gain real German.
In upper secondary the school prepares students for the bilingual Abitur, the general higher education entrance qualification awarded under Berlin rules. Alongside it, Phorms offers Advanced Placement certificates and, through the advanced English course, the internationally recognised Cambridge Advanced English certificate, which broadens the options for students aiming at universities outside Germany. The continuous bilingual programme from the early years is the school's defining feature. For how it compares with the capital's English medium and IB schools, see our guide to international schools in Berlin for tech and startup families.
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Phorms Campus Berlin fees
Phorms Campus Berlin fees are unusual because they are scaled to household income rather than fixed. Monthly primary fees run from roughly 118 to 519 euro and monthly secondary fees from roughly 118 to 698 euro, with the band a family pays determined by what they earn. On signing the school contract there is an administration fee of two and a half times the monthly fee, reduced to a single monthly fee for households earning below 50,000 euro, and the group applies loyalty discounts that grow the longer a child stays. That structure makes Phorms one of the more accessible private options against the wider international school fees in Berlin.
As with any school, parents should budget beyond tuition for the costs that sit outside the monthly fee, such as lunches, learning materials, school trips, after school activities and external examination entries. Because the fee depends on income, families should ask the admissions office to confirm their band, the administration fee that will apply and any sibling or loyalty reductions before committing.
Admissions
Most children join Phorms at kindergarten or in the first year of primary, with later entry possible where a place exists in the right year group. As a popular bilingual school, demand outstrips supply at the main entry points, so registering interest early matters. The school typically invites families to an open day or campus tour, then assesses whether a child can access the bilingual programme at the stage they are applying for.
Relocating families should contact the relevant campus, Mitte or Sued, as early as possible, confirm the entry requirements for their child's age and the language balance expected, and ask about waiting lists. Allow time too for the German residence and registration steps that run alongside any school place, and confirm the fee band that applies to your household so there are no surprises at the contract stage.
Location and who goes there
The Mitte campus sits in central Berlin near the Berlin Wall Memorial and Humboldthain Park, well served by U-Bahn, S-Bahn and tram, which suits families living and working across the inner city. The Berlin Sued campus is in the greener Steglitz Zehlendorf district in the south west, a calmer residential setting that appeals to families further from the centre. Running two sites lets the school draw from quite different parts of the city.
The community mixes German families who want a strong English education with international and dual language households, including the tech and startup families who have made Berlin a hub. Many live in Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and the central districts near the first campus, or in Steglitz, Zehlendorf and the south western suburbs near the second. For the fuller picture of where international families settle and which schools sit nearby, return to the Berlin city hub.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Phorms Campus Berlin fees?
Phorms uses income scaled monthly fees. Primary fees run from about 118 to 519 euro a month and secondary from about 118 to 698 euro a month, with the band a family pays set by household income. On signing the school contract an administration fee of two and a half times the monthly fee applies, reduced to a single monthly fee for households earning below 50,000 euro.
What curriculum does Phorms Campus Berlin follow?
It is a bilingual German and English school using the immersion method, with teaching based on the Berlin framework curriculum from kindergarten through to the bilingual Abitur. In upper secondary, AP certificates are offered alongside the Abitur and students can work toward the Cambridge Advanced English certificate.
Where are the Phorms campuses in Berlin?
Phorms runs two Berlin campuses. Phorms Berlin Mitte opened in 2006 and sits in the central Mitte district near the Berlin Wall Memorial and Humboldthain Park. Phorms Berlin Sued is in the green Steglitz Zehlendorf district in the south west of the city.
When do Phorms Campus Berlin applications open?
Phorms enrols mainly into kindergarten and the first year of primary, with later entry where places exist. Demand is high, so families should register interest early, take a campus tour and confirm the bilingual entry requirements and the fee band for their household.
Is Phorms Campus Berlin a good school for English speaking families?
Phorms suits families who want their child to become fluent in both German and English rather than learning in English alone. Because it is bilingual and income scaled, it is one of the more accessible private routes in Berlin, though parents wanting a fully English medium programme should also compare the city's international schools.
