Who we are

We aim to enrich the educational landscape with high-quality bilingual schools. Working together with local authorities, educational institutions and companies, we design each of our establishments as an integrated living space.

The Phorms network includes locations throughout Germany in Berlin-Mitte and Berlin-Zehlendorf, Berlin-Prenzlauer BergDreieich (near Frankfurt), ErlenbachFrankfurt City and Frankfurt Taunus, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Munich and Weinsberg. Our bilingual, German-English nurseries, primary and secondary schools, the Heidelberg International School (H.I.S.), the Erzieherakademie Heilbronn and the Strothoff International School are independently managed.

Our private schools are supported by local companies that work on a not-for-profit basis. They are state-approved alternative independent schools – students attend them instead of an equivalent state school. Both our primary and secondary schools are subject to state inspection, and teaching is based on the framework curriculum of the respective state. Similarly, students are prepared for standard school-leaving certificates such as the Mittlerer Schulabschluss (a certificate of intermediate education after year 10) and the Abitur.

Phorms Education SE

The team at Phorms Education SE help to develop school locations by sourcing the necessary start-up funding, recruiting teachers and improving infrastructure.

The founding of Phorms Management AG (now Phorms Education SE) in 2005 created the basis for the establishment of schools. Businesses and private individuals decided to invest in these schools because they were convinced by the Phorms idea and the need for a new and effective form of education.

Our investors are social entrepreneurs who seek to combine cost-effectiveness and a positive return for society. They help to realise an innovative school concept while contributing to diversity in the educational landscape.

The name ‘Phorms’

Formation signifies emergence or development, while metamorphosis means change or transformation. ‘Phorms’ is a combination of these two words. It is a term that combines the concept of development with that of movement.

The Phorms locations

While Phorms schools and nurseries are in various locations throughout Germany, they all share a common element – the pedagogical concept. Nonetheless, every location remains highly individual. The school community, teaching staff, parents and students give each location its unique character. At almost all Phorms locations, nursery, primary school and secondary school are united under one roof.
And given Germany’s federal system, the laws of the state also have an influence. Phorms isn’t so much a chain as a network. Each location functions individually, however all the schools enjoy constant, lively exchange with one another.

The first Phorms school, Phorms Campus Berlin Mitte, opened in 2006. The secondary school in Berlin-Mitte is state-approved and entitled to offer ‘Abitur’ (matriculation) exams.

In 2007, operations began at the Phorms Campus Frankfurt City. The school established a second location in Steinbach (Taunus) on the outskirts of Frankfurt in 2009. In 2011, these schools received their status as state-approved private schools and in 2020 the state recognition of the upper socondary school.

The Phorms Campus München also opened in 2007 and is state-approved.

In 2008, the Phorms Campus Berlin Süd opened in Berlin-Zehlendorf and is state-approved, too.

The Phorms Campus Hamburg opened its doors in 2008 and successfully held the so-called Externenabitur in the school year 2019/2020 for the first time. Since August 2021, the secondary school is also state recognised and can offer the Hamburg secondary school graduation.

The Josef-Schwarz-Schule is the newest member of the Phorms’ network, accepting its first students in 2012. In 2020, a second location of the Josef-Schwarz-School was opened in Heilbronn with a reception and primary school.

The Neckarburg nurseriy in Heilbronn has been part of the Phorms network since 2014. In 2015, the Schatzinsel nursery in Erlenbach also became part of the network. By opening the nurseries Wolkenreich (2018) and Traumland (2019) we have expanded our capacities. With the Kita Zauberberg in Weinsberg, this offer has been additionally expanded since fall 2021.

In 2019, the Erzieherakademie Heilbronn opened as the first institution of Phorms Education in the field of education for adults. Since September 2022, the Erzieherakademie Heilbronn is also state-recognised.

In 2022 the Strothoff International School joined the Phorms network.

What makes Phorms special?

At Phorms, children learn in German and English from the very beginning. The school’s students are supervised by German and international teaching staff even at nursery school level. This means that every Phorms school places equal importance on both languages from the start of the child’s education, while at the same time following the individual state’s curriculum framework.The German Abitur is taken in secondary school at the end of Year 12.

Alongside the Abitur, students also have the opportunity to take part in the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programmes. Both programmes are international and prepare students for studying at international universities. The school decides which of the two it will offer.

 On the following pages, you can find out more about our concept, the immersion method and our different locations.