FAQs

Some governments (e.g. France, Germany, Japan) set up their own schools abroad as if they were in their own country. The European Union is setting up European Schools in cities where EU institutions employ a large number of families from the EU. The armed forces of Great Britain and the USA are establishing schools for members of their armed forces abroad. Some countries are setting up an international department within a local public school. However, these and other models differ fundamentally in philosophy and curriculum from international schools. International schools are independent of government agencies and serve the children of families working in international business and the diplomatic service. International schools are supervised by the respective country in which they are located and, as in Germany, are recognized or approved by the individual federal states and are supervised accordingly.

International schools prepare students for transfer to another school, return to their home country, or further education. They offer recognized qualifications such as the IB Diploma, IB Career-related Programme, IGCSE, 'A'-Levels, or Advanced Placement. Depending on the subject choice, the IB Diploma is considered equivalent to the German Abitur and qualifies for university admission worldwide.

International schools may be subject to control and approval under the regulations of the host country. This depends on the extent to which they receive recognized status for public funding purposes. They also seek accreditation from national and international organizations that regularly and thoroughly review facilities, curricula, staff, etc. Schools offering recognized qualifications such as the IB or IGCSE are also reviewed by accreditation bodies, and their results can be compared with international standards.

The status and legal form of an international school reflects the host country's regulations for public and private education. These govern questions of recognition, curriculum freedom, admission of local students, and public funding. International schools are typically largely or entirely funded through tuition fees paid by parents of students. These may also be covered by the companies they work for. When calculating tuition, the parents' financial situation is considered, including the possibility of a full waiver. International schools may also receive public funds, depending on the local political climate, legal status, and degree of official recognition. Since the qualifications are recognized by the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education as equivalent to German school qualifications with prescribed subject choices, international schools with substitute school status have a constitutional right to financial support from the state. This enables them to adapt to the very specific needs of a small but important target group for our society.

AGIS member schools are independently organized, non-profit, and may not generate profit. Ownership structures vary depending on the legal form of the school. Many schools are non-profit associations owned by the parents of students. These in turn elect a board of trustees or executive board that oversees the school's operations. Others are registered as non-profit corporations or non-profit limited liability companies, and the shareholders are the owners. Still others are directly owned by individuals or companies.

International schools are generally open to all children, regardless of their academic level. They primarily serve children of families working in the international business world or diplomatic service. However, parents who wish to educate their children in an international environment can also send their children to an international school.

Although international schools are free to choose their curriculum model, they have developed common curricula and assessment systems to facilitate student transitions. These include, for example, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP), the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP), and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

International schools work closely together to facilitate student transfers from one school to another and to support each other in curriculum development. They belong to various regional or international professional associations that promote educational standards by offering workshops and conferences for teachers and administrative staff. Most AGIS schools are members of the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) and participate in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which enables seamless transitions between schools.

International schools are independent educational institutions tailored to the special needs of children from expat families and international businesses. They are not part of a central organization like Volkswagen or Deutsche Bank, but typically emerge from initiatives within international communities or through regional demand from business and politics.

The international teachers come from various countries and have qualifications mainly from their home countries. In many federal states, international teachers must also meet local recognition criteria. German subject teachers must be able to pass at least the first state examination or, for certain years, the second state examination.