BCS Receives “International Sustainability School / Eco-School in Europe” Award for the Second Time
Berlin Cosmopolitan School (BCS) has once again been honoured with the title “International Sustainability School / Eco-School in Europe.” The award was presented at Berlin’s historic Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus) and recognises schools that successfully embed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into everyday teaching, learning, and school life.
Receiving this prestigious distinction for the second time is a significant recognition of the commitment shown by the entire BCS community—especially the teachers who continuously develop innovative educational programmes and the students who bring these initiatives to life with curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm.
Jury Recognises an Innovative Sustainability Concept
The jury particularly praised Berlin Cosmopolitan School’s comprehensive portfolio of established ESD initiatives.
Among the highlights were the “Biodiversity” and “NaWi4Future” programmes, which enable students to explore ecological systems through hands-on scientific inquiry while developing practical solutions for a more sustainable future.
The school also received special recognition for its consistent alignment with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, the jury highlighted the implementation of SDG 4 – Quality Education through innovative teaching and learning methods.
Equally impressive was the school’s curriculum coordination, which systematically embeds the 2030 Agenda throughout everyday school life, making sustainability an integral part of learning rather than a stand-alone topic.
Another aspect that particularly impressed the jury was the school’s collaborative approach: many sustainability projects and learning experiences are developed together with students, ensuring that their perspectives help shape the curriculum while encouraging them to engage with global challenges and social responsibility.
Students Represent the BCS Community on Stage
The award ceremony also reflected the school’s commitment to student participation.
Representing the entire BCS community on stage were Year 8 student Raphael and Year 11 student Lilli, together with Katharina Ehrenfried, Head of Primary School, and Yvonne Wende, Head of Secondary School, who accepted the award on behalf of the school.
Sustainability as Part of Everyday School Life
At Berlin Cosmopolitan School, sustainability is far more than a classroom topic — it is woven into everyday school life.
Weekly forest days for Year 6 students in the school’s own forest in Prenden, Outdoor Learning at the Nature Campus on Lake Müggelsee, science-based sustainability projects, and continuous engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals all connect academic learning with real-world experiences.
Whether exploring biodiversity, addressing climate change, promoting responsible resource management, or conducting scientific research, students are encouraged to take responsibility and discover how they can actively contribute to shaping a more sustainable future. In doing so, BCS combines nature education, scientific learning, and civic engagement into a holistic educational approach.
An Award for the Entire School Community
Receiving the “International Sustainability School / Eco-School in Europe” award for the second time is a strong endorsement of this educational philosophy.
The honour belongs to the entire school community — to the students whose curiosity and commitment give these initiatives meaning every day, and to the teachers whose expertise, passion, and innovative spirit continue to develop and strengthen sustainability education across the school.
Read more about the award and BCS’s approach to sustainable education in our latest press release (in German).
About the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Preschool and Kindergarten
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School is changing the traditional way schools and kindergartens work with different approaches to learning in the areas of nature and environmental protection, sports, new work, culture, dance, music and art and much more. The aim of the independent school, preschool and kindergarten is to bring all students along according to their abilities.
“When school motivates, everyone learns more” is the conviction of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School. Regular outdoor learning, sports activities and competitions, digital projects such as robotics, internships from grade 6, music-making from kindergarten age, dance clubs, bilingual education and much more help the children to discover and develop their own preferences and abilities.
Important concerns of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Kindergarten and Preschool are social justice, equal opportunities in education and a balanced community. The school regularly awards scholarships to students and accepts refugees. Through its established network and internationally trained staff, the educational institution has the opportunity to explore new educational paths for every age group.
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School was founded in 2003 as a non-profit organisation by Yvonne Wende. In 2004, the first bilingual (English-German) kindergarten and preschool opened for Berlin-Mitte with 18 children. Shortly after, the primary school started and most recently, in 2009, the accredited bilingual Gymnasium of Berlin Cosmopolitan School 01P22. Since then, the number of students has steadily increased. Approximately 1,000 students from all over the world are now being taught on the Rückerstraße and Invalidenstraße campuses. The kindergarten has grown to a number of more than 300 children between the ages of 1 and 6.
In 2013, Berlin Cosmopolitan School was accredited as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, first for primary school and also for the Gymnasium. The IB Learner Profile is about developing children and young people into lifelong learners. The school and kindergarten use primary experiences to design lessons.
