I.B.I.S. Bonn — English-medium primary education with German preparation

Independent Bonn International School, usually written I.B.I.S., is a co-educational day school at Tulpenbaumweg 42 in Bad Godesberg. Founded in 1963 as the British Embassy Preparatory School, it now serves local and international families.

It is separate from Bonn International School, or BIS. The distinction is educational as well as geographical. I.B.I.S. concentrates on younger children and preparation for a subsequent German or international school. BIS offers an IB route through the final secondary years.

English teaching, with a considered German option

I.B.I.S. is a non-profit registered association. It describes its primary provision as an anerkannte Ersatzschule: a state-recognised private alternative to a public primary school. It issues reports and certificates in German and English. This status should not be read as recognition of an upper-secondary qualification that the school does not offer.

The learning page sets out the curriculum:

• Kindergarten and Reception use England’s Early Years Foundation Stage, with learning through play for young children.
• Later years mainly follow the English National Curriculum.
• German follows North Rhine-Westphalia’s curriculum.
• Families can choose German-taught social studies in Years 2–5 and mathematics in Year 5, or retain English for these subjects.
• Years 6–7 add French or Spanish. Early-secondary teaching uses Cambridge material in mathematics, English and science.

British Year numbers do not map directly onto German class numbers. Ask the school how your child’s age, previous studies and intended destination affect placement.

This combination is useful for families considering a later move into a German school. It does not guarantee admission to a particular secondary school. Discuss the target school and the necessary German level well before transfer.

Language support and the final year

Children do not have to speak English before joining, according to the language-support page. English as an Additional Language support helps pupils participate in lessons. Ask how much support your child would receive and whether the current contribution covers it.

All pupils learn German from Year 1. Teaching separates German mother-tongue learners from those learning it as a foreign language. School-wide communication is mainly English, although staff can help parents in other languages.

The final offered year is less clear. The homepage states ages 3–12; the learning page describes teaching through Year 7 but also links to “Learning from 3 to 13”. Published school hours name Years 7 and 8. These are conflicting descriptions, not evidence that every older year is currently available. Obtain written confirmation of the last year your child can attend.

The school states a maximum of 22 pupils per class, with a teacher and a teaching-and-learning assistant. Confirm the actual class size and support arrangements during your visit.

School hours, meals and activities

The school-life page gives these regular hours:

Group	Published hours
Kindergarten and Reception	8:40–15:00
Half-day Kindergarten	8:40–12:00
Years 1–6	8:40–15:20
Years 7–8, as named on the hours page	8:30–15:20

Morning supervision starts at 8:00. After-school supervision runs until 17:00 Monday–Thursday and 16:30 Friday. Some activities run later, up to 17:30 Monday–Thursday. An activity timetable is not a promise of general childcare until that time; confirm collection arrangements for each day.

Lunchtime clubs are free, while after-school activities have varying charges. The school year has three terms, with a calendar combining its term structure and local German holidays.

Uniform is compulsory. Lehmanns supplies hot lunches, or children can bring packed food. The school is nut-free. Orders close at noon on Monday for the following week. Drinks are not included; children should bring their own, without carbonated drinks or glass bottles.

Admissions and costs

The school welcomes enquiries from new arrivals throughout the year and offers arranged visits. That is an invitation to apply, not a guarantee of space. Ask about the target class, the language assessment and any learning-support needs before making relocation commitments.

The public pages checked on 4 September 2026 do not give a current contribution table. The support association sets membership contributions that help finance the school.

The resources page says teaching materials are included and names uniform, meals and special excursions as extras. Its broad statement about no other costs needs reading alongside the separate published charges for after-school activities.

Request one written schedule covering:

• Annual contributions and any admission or deposit payment.
• English support, morning supervision, afternoon care and activity charges.
• Sibling reductions, payment dates and withdrawal notice.
• Uniform, meals and excursions.

Without those figures, a reliable annual comparison with another school is not possible.

Our view

I.B.I.S. is worth a close look for younger children whose family wants English-medium education with a deliberate option to develop academic German. The optional German-taught subjects give that ambition a concrete form.

Choose it with a transition plan. If avoiding a later school move is your priority, compare BIS’s longer IB pathway. If German-medium education is your settled long-term goal, also investigate local public primary schools and their actual care provision.

Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.