1,200 students from 56 nations study at the Bavarian International School gAG (BIS) between the two campuses located in the village of Haimhausen and Munich city. The motto, "Believe. Inspire. Succeed", shapes the pedagogically rich and holistic education the students, aged three through to 19, receive from this institution. Intercultural competence, collaborative and inspirational learning, respect, social responsibility and tolerance; this is the spirit of this accredited IB World School.
170 teachers from 29 nations provide BIS students with an exceptional 7.5:1 teacher-student ratio that allows teachers to identify and accommodate the individual needs and strengths of each child. The tangible proof of this successful approach is seen each year in BIS students’ IB Diploma scores. In 2019 the average score was 34.3 points; well above the worldwide average of 29.7.
The Bavarian International School strives for state-of-the-art school standards by investing in interactive whiteboards and Apple TV's, iPads (1:1 programme for Grades 4-6), MacBooks (1:1 programme for Grades 7-12), science and technology laboratories, art and design studios, sports halls, theater spaces, an auditorium and an extensive extra-curricular programme.
Keep reading about BIS: Why Bavarian International School?
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Video of Distance Learning at BIS
We have organised the information available for this school into 6 sections and 39 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
Number of students
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More than 1.200 students.
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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More than 56 nationalities.
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Most common nationality
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German (27%), British (11%), American (11%), Spanish (8%), Indian (5%), Japanese (4%), other various 50 Nationalities (33%)
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Ratio of local students to international students
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Average of 20-25% local students.
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Max. number of students per class
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Maximum class sizes are 22 in Early Childhood and 24 across the rest of the school, with the exception of Grades 11 and 12 where the maximum class size is 18.
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Average number of students per class
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20 students
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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Yes
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Native English speaking teachers
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Yes, all teacher are native speakers or on a high level of English language.
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Language support for students not fluent in English
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The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Programme is designed to equip each student with the social and academic language skills necessary to seamlessly enter the multicultural community and gain unhampered access to learning opportunities at BIS. In the process of additional language acquisition, EAL students transfer literacy and cognitive skills from their Mother Tongue (MT) and thus contribute unique perspectives enriching the learning environment at our school.
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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Despite the regular classes for English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese and Mandarin, we have a very comprehensive Mother-Tongue-Programme offering lesson in 17 languages.
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Use of technology in the classroom
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Bavarian International School aims to prepare students to meet the challenges of a dynamic global society in which they collaborate, contribute and flourish through universal access to people, information and ideas.
Twenty-first century learning is lifelong learning with technology. Using educational technology as a tool for learning, students develop the capacity to locate, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information to create knowledge.
We have a 1-to-1 Laptop Programme for students as of grade 7, 1:1 iPads in grades 4-6 and 1:2/1:3 class-sets in younger classes.
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Do teachers assign homework to their students?
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Yes
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Approximate hours of homework given
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A total of max. 30 minutes per day.
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Uniform required
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No, but BIS is a professional, multi-cultural learning and working environment. As such, students should dress in appropriate, considerate, safe and comfortable clothing.
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Waiting list
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Yes, for some classes.
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Entry evaluation for students
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Testing and screening will take different forms based on grade level, academic ability, social and behavioural characteristics, and language proficiency.
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Brief description of entry evaluation required
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Requirements may include, but need not be limited to, the review of confidential teacher references, consideration of past school reports (translated into English, as needed) or individual student portfolios and a personal interview, as well as subject-specific tests in English.
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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We accept applications throughout the year.
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Students can join after academic year begins
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Yes
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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Most students continue their education at colleges and universities after graduating, only a few decide to take on a gap year before continuing their education.
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External examinations or assessments available
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SAT, PSAT, IB Diploma
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Results in these examinations
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July 2017: 95% IB Diploma passes | 33.0 average IB points | 100% High School Diploma passes
July 2018: 94% IB Diploma passes | 34.6 average IB points | 100% High School Diploma passes
July 2019: 94% IB Diploma passes | 34.3 average IB points | 100% High School Diploma passes
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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No
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How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion?
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Yes
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School bus service available
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We provide a bus system which serves over 80% of the BIS community. Our families appreciate the very individual service, which offers a pick up and drop off point within an approximately five – ten minute walk from the home. This transportation service is optional, with prices calculated to cover costs only.
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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The Learning Support teachers in the Primary and Secondary Schools provide support to both formally identified students and those struggling students who have been informally identified by a teacher. Additionally, the Secondary School has implemented a pastoral care programme, strengthening the cooperation between Mentor teachers, Counselors and Learning Support teachers.
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Learning support offered
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The purpose of the learning support is to identify student’s learning style, scaffold their learning and differentiate the curriculum in order to highlight their true potential. The focus is on the differentiation of learning. We believe effective learning support utilises a collaborative approach, supporting students, teachers and parents in developing an environment that results in optimum learning.
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Student access to education psychologist
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The Counselling Department at BIS provides a comprehensive support system for the entire community including students, parents and staff. Our counsellors are trained in effective strategic student planning and counselling techniques that serve to nurture the growth of our students.
Professional school counsellors play a vital role in maximising student achievement and supporting a safe learning environment. They work to safeguard the human rights of all school community members.
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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Bavarian International School is one of only 2 schools in Germany that is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to offer all four programs. BIS provides excellent education for children of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds! BIS offers a full-time program for students from all over the world, from pre-school to successful graduation. The motto of the school: "Believe. Inspire. Succeed." Our goal is to provide children and adolescents with the intellectual, social and critical perspectives they need as adults. One of the things that parents and students value most about BIS is its friendly family-oriented school feeling and strong sense of community.
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Teaching approach of the school
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BIS believes in continuous innovation and pursues a "fail-forward" philosophy. Teachers are encouraged to adopt innovative teaching methods. The school provides an international curriculum through innovative pedagogical techniques to encourage students to inquire, become knowledgeable and, more importantly, become caring individuals.
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Distance Learning in Action
Take a look at some of the powerful learning experiences from around the BIS community during Distance Learning. These stories and photos show how our community is adapting and responding to a changing environment and world.
Haimhausen Campus
BIS moved to its Haimhausen campus in August 1998. The School occupies five main buildings on a single site in the village of Haimhausen, approximately 10 kilometres north of the Munich City boundary. It is situated in beautifully landscaped parklands and surrounded by environmentally protected woodlands. A number of purpose-built modern buildings have been added to the campus to provide the range of facilities required for a high-quality EC1 to Grade 12 international school.
City Campus
Opened in January 2016, the BIS City Campus on Leopoldstrasse 208 in Munich is a beautifully renovated facility that caters to primary school students in Early Childhood (EC, 3 years old) to Grade 5. The campus is easily accessible via a range of convenient public transportation options and excellent road links. The downtown location is ideal for families with young children living in and around Munich.
Children attending our City Campus have the option to continue their secondary education at the BIS campus in Haimhausen. The Haimhausen Campus will continue to offer both Primary and Secondary education.