The Cambridge International Primary Programme (CIPP) is an internationally recognised educational qualification.
The CIPP was developed in 2005 for use in the subjects of English, mathematics and science at primary school level. It provides curricula, tests and didactic methods for the individual levels within the class. The programme displays a good degree of compatibility with local German outline curricula and helps us to ensure the high quality of teaching.
Using the CIPP enables us to provide our students with good foundations for study and work abroad at later stages.
Students who have been learning in a bilingual environment for many years perform at an above-average level in foreign languages, in their own mother tongue and in other subjects. Bilingualism promotes the cognitive development of children in such areas as awareness of language, creativity and flexible thinking.
Most of the teaching at our primary school takes place in English. Teachers deliver the lesson content at native speaker level in accordance with the immersion method. This means that teaching staff speak in the foreign language at all times, with pictures, gestures and symbols being used to support student understanding. This enables the children to learn a foreign language in a play-based manner and in a completely natural way within a wide range of contexts. Even our primary school students also able to discuss, write and give presentations in the English language.
At the same time, we also attach great importance to high quality teaching in German. Students begin by learning the German alphabet, for example. Our German teachers are often provided with specialist classrooms for this purpose.
In mathematics, we teach the basic principles of logical thinking and develop solutions for problems connected to everyday life. Mathematics lessons at Phorms Education often adopt a play-based and creative approach, this being one reason why many Phorms students enjoy the subject so much.
We set great store by teaching children scientific techniques at an early stage. In science, our students observe, measure and classify phenomena from their own environment and present the results to the rest of the group.
We teach mathematics and science in accordance with the international quality standards of the Cambridge International Primary Programme.
Creativity is the prerequisite for enjoyment and success, both in learning and in planning for later life. For this reason, we take musical and artistic subjects extremely seriously.
Music at Phorms Education is taught by specially-trained teachers. Our specialist classrooms are well equipped with musical instruments and art materials. All our students learn to read music and to play a simple instrument.
We provide a wide range of optional activities and afternoon clubs to foster creativity and musicality. The concerts and exhibitions we stage form an integral part of school life, and we also arrange visits to theatres, concerts and museums.
All our classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards which can be written on and which teachers and students can use for Internet research and to run applications. In addition to this, each student has access to a laptop and learns how to use the computer to write texts, carry out research, perform calculations and give presentations both in IT lessons and across other subjects.
We attach great importance to guiding our students towards autonomous learning and to supplementing our teaching by hands-on experiences. For this reason, our teachers regularly use projects as a framework for the delivery of contents.
Students undertake activities such as excursions as well as theatre and museum visits to relating topics. They interview experts, construct models, carry out experiments and prepare presentations. The children learn how to approach a topic in an independent and creative way, how to work from a number of different angles and how to conduct a group presentation.
It is important to us that our students learn appropriate social behaviour and how to work in a group. Group work is a source of motivation for the children. They assume responsibility together, learn how to organise themselves, inject their own ideas and learn from one another. For this reason, we are always seeking to form teams. This is an approach we adopt in sport, where fair play and team work are an integral part of teaching, and as an overall philosophy which extends across the other subjects.
Each child has his or her own interests and abilities. For this reason, the Phorms concept is aligned towards the individual development of the children, featuring a high care ratio, all-day teaching, inter-disciplinary team and project work, creative learning methods and exciting afternoon activities. All of this provides the scope for individual talents to develop.
In addition to this, our teachers foster and support individual children by providing regular small-group teaching within lessons. Our Learning Support / Special Needs Programme supports children who need to catch up in a core subject such as English, reading, writing or arithmetic. The assistance provided to children with learning difficulties also enriches teaching within the class community by delivering better integration and motivation on the part of all children.
Learning is a process which requires time and creative space. For this reason, we offer “rhythmitised teaching”. Double lessons allow time for projects and individual learning methods and alternate with shorter teaching units.
The exact point at which a lesson ends is determined by the teacher as there are no bells at Phorms Education. We also include a period of “class teacher time“, during which teachers and students discuss general school issues. The structure of the day features breaks and a lunchtime period which provides enough time for both eating and play. During the afternoon, children can play in the day care centre or else choose from a wide range of afternoon activities.
