Our History: Where we come from

2003

The non-profit organisation “Initiative für Bildungs- und Begabungsförderung” (Initiative for the Promotion of Education and Talent), which focuses on international education, is founded by the experienced teacher and Head of School Yvonne Wende. Within a year, she also founds the first international preschool for Berlin-Mitte.

2004

The first bilingual English-German kindergarten for Berlin-Mitte opens its doors in September with 18 children. This was the foundation stone for today’s Berlin Cosmopolitan School. Ms. Anita Kreft, who graduated with honours as a dance teacher at the Palucca Schule in Dresden, begins dance lessons with the preschoolers.

2005

The kindergarten grows to 35 children after 6 months.

The music programme of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School begins. “Loving music only works if you are allowed to play music yourself. But that has to happen early on.” (Yvonne Wende)

2006

Helga Helmbold, a lecturer and teacher, founds the European Educational Foundation. Through her generous donation and the great help of Michele V. Adamski, the founding of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School can be initiated.

2007

The BCS Primary School opens with 30 students (grades 1-4) in the building of the Protestant Sophienkirche, Große Hamburger Straße, Berlin-Mitte. We would like to thank the Protestant congregation for their support.

2008

The BCS primary school with now 70 students (grades 1-6) move into the current school building, Rückerstraße 9 in Berlin-Mitte, which was bought by two generous sponsors for the Berlin Cosmopolitan School. The professional dance hall with a large mirror wall is opened with a ceremonial dance performance. All classrooms will be equipped with SMARTboards and internet.

2009

The BCS Gymnasium is launched with 10students for grade 7. Our state-of-the-art science laboratory has opened. The first international student exchanges take place.

2010

There are 130 BCS kindergarten and pre-school children, 170 primary school students and 32 secondary school students (grades 7-8) learning at BCS. Our own sports organisation Central Hoops Berlin Cosmopolitan e. V. is founded. In the same year, our library opens its doors.

2011

In August, the Media Lab, which includes more than 20 computers, is opened. Opening of our second kindergarten and pre-school “Kindergarten in the Park” at Invalidenstraße 130, Berlin-Mitte, with initially 40 children in October.

2012

The school’s own kitchen – a milestone in the history of BCS – is brought to life by the initiative of parents. Together with chef Hartmut Keuchel, chairman of the Berlin-Brandenburg Guild of Gastronomy, and his team, four cooks prepare more than 700 healthy lunches every day – a great benefit for the students and teachers. In addition, a special brunch buffet is offered every morning to the students of the school.

2013

BCS is approved as an International Baccalaureate World School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP). The first examinations for the Middle School Certificate (MSA) are successfully taken. The Cosmovatorium is launched – an extracurricular music and dance school within BCS. BCS is the first and so far only school in Berlin to offer IB Dance. All classrooms and subject rooms now have interactive SMARTboards, internet, computers, flipcharts, whiteboards and displays.

2014

BCS celebrates its 10th anniversary and receives official state recognition for the Gymnasium (Anerkanntes Gymnasium/ Sekundarstufe II).

2015

The first IB Diploma year successfully completes the programme. We celebrate our first all-school Summer Show, showcasing talent from kindergarten through high school. The High School Art Room is officially opened at 10 Rücker Street. Over 700 students from all over the world study at our Rückerstrasse & Invalidenstrasse campuses.

2016

All IB Diploma and Abitur students are now studying in the new and very modern Upper Secondary Forum at Rückerstraße 8. The first Abitur class graduates from BCS with an excellent grade point average of 1.4 – the best result of any school in Berlin. Congratulations to all the students and teachers who made this possible! The backyard is rebuilt and is now BCS’s outdoor basketball and football court.

2017

  • Two IB students in the top 1% of the world
  • MINT-friendly digital school award for primary school & grammar school
  • School library goes online
  • Erasmus+ “Strategic Partnership for School Education” grant for kindergarten

2018

  • 1st TedX Youth at BCS with 12 student speakers from grades 4-11.
  • Yvonne Wende wins 2nd place as “Entrepreneur of the Year”.
  • EU grant for promoting value systems “Resilience promotion in educational institutions through conceptual consensus decision-making…”

2019

  • 2nd TEDx Youth at BCS with 10 student speakers from grades 2-12.
  • Best Abitur average of all grammar schools in Berlin
  • For the first time, two classes throughout all grades 1-12
  • Grade 6 lessons 1x a week in nature
  • BCS Kindergarten becomes “Leuchtturm Kita
  • EU Erasmus+ funding “Contemporary Education for Generation Z & Alpha”

2020

  • Online lessons according to the regular timetable from day 2 of the shutdown for primary and secondary school.
  • Certification of the “German Nutrition Society” DGE for Cosmo Cookery – our school kitchen

2021

Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Preschool & Kindergarten launches its commitment to the new extracurricular learning space in nature at Müggelsee.

2022

Our 2022 Abitur graduates have achieved a grade point average of 1.5! This is absolutely outstanding, especially when you consider that they took their Abitur in two (Corona) pandemic years. It is also the best grade point average in Berlin.

Opening of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School Natur Campus at Müggelsee.

2023

First summer and sports camps at the Berlin Cosmopolitan School Campus location.

1st Alumni-Day of Berlin Cosmopolitan School graduates with students in grades 9-12 on Sept. 8, 2023 at the Berlin Cosmopolitan School Campus location.