Key Aspects

Our teaching framework is the Hamburg curriculum for 4 years of primary school. We supplement this plan with elements from the Cambridge Primary Programme and develop our own internal curriculum from these sources. This curriculum includes sufficient time to alternate between learning and playing, concentration and relaxation during the course of the day.

Bilingualism

Children who learn bilingually for several years perform better on average both in foreign languages and in their mother tongue – as well as in other subjects. Bilingualism promotes children’s cognitive development, for example language awareness, creativity and flexibility in thinking.

In primary school we teach in equal parts in German and English and all teachers use the immersion method. With this method teachers speak exclusively in their respective mother tongues (German or English). The deliberate use of gestures, facial expressions, pictures and symbols helps children to understand and acquire the language. In this way they learn the language playfully and as a matter of course in different natural contexts. Even our primary school children learn to discuss, give presentations and calculate bilingually through this method of language teaching. At the same time, we attach great importance to high quality German lessons. At the end of primary school our students feel confident in both languages.

For students who still need to develop their German or English skills, we offer a targeted follow-up programme in German (Deutsch als Zweitsprache/DaZ) or English (English as a second language/ESL). The language instruction starts with the individual language skills of the students and builds on these skills in a targeted manner so that they can quickly reach the level of their year. Our DaZ and ESL teachers work closely together with the subject teachers for German and English, the class teachers, our support coordinator, parents, and students.

Individual support

Every child has different interests and abilities. This is why the Phorms concept is tailored to the individual development of the children: a high childcare rate with two qualified pedagogical staff per class, all-day lessons, interdisciplinary team and project work, creative learning methods and an exciting afternoon programme give the individual talents room to unfold. We never leave a child alone! 
In addition, we encourage and support individual children by regularly teaching them in smaller groups in separate lessons. The support of children with special learning needs also enriches the lessons in the classroom - through better integration and motivation of all children.

Team and project work

We place great importance on guiding our students to learn independently and to supplement lessons with vivid experiences. For this reason, our teachers regularly teach the material in group- and project work (e.g. excursions to museums and theatres, surveys, or building models). The children learn to work on topics both independently and in groups creatively and from different perspectives.

Logical thinking

It’s important to us to ensure that our students learn scientific techniques at an early age. They observe, measure, classify and analyse phenomena from their environment and use this information to develop solutions to everyday problems using a playful and creative approach.

Media education

All of our classrooms are equipped with interactive, writable whiteboards, which can be used to research online or to operate programmes. All students also have access to a laptop to learn how to write, research, calculate and make presentations on the computer. 
The use of these media provides valuable impulses for the learning development of our students, and at the same time it strengthens their competence in dealing with interactive media, and besides, it’s a lot of fun for students to learn on the computer.

Creativity

Creativity is a prerequisite for joy and success, both in learning and in life planning. That is why we attach great importance to musical and artistic subjects. Our specialist rooms are optimally equipped for this. All primary school children learn to read music and play a simple instrument with us.
We encourage children’s creativity through a variety of elective and afternoon activities. The performance of concerts and our own exhibitions are part of our school life, as are visits to theatres, concerts and museums.