ecolea International School Mallorca

If you are looking for a school that combines the German syllabus with the acquisition of the Spanish and English language ecolea International school should be your first choice. It is easily accessible and lies in the quiet urbanisation Sa Planera, close to Marratxí.

Although the ecolea International School has been open for a few years and language of instruction has mainly been in German, they are going through a few changes as they are going to become a bilingual school from September 2016. From Year 1 students are going to be taught in Spanish and German while both languages have the same importance. From Year 3 students will study English as an additional language and from Year 5 English, Spanish and German will be used equally in class. In addition Catalan will be part of the programme. To succeed they follow the canadian programme of the „Two-way-immersion“ which accompanies children´s learning progress individually. Project- and problem-based learning are the base for a highly student centered learning process.

The school is committed to offering their students a sound academic education linked with a positive attitude for life to be able to succeed under the pressure of an expeditiously changing world. Individual talents are being fostered. Furthermore, they highlight key values like co-operation, responsibility, accountability, tolerance, mutual respect, the courage to develop a free mind, as well as the ability to formulate and accept constructive criticism. The purpose is to create viable citizens of the world.

The school follows the German curriculum of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania in combination with the Spanish one. ecolea Mallorca cooperates autonomously with the ecolea schools in Germany. The accreditation is currently in process, therefore the school prepares students for exams which have to be held externally in Germany.

Students from the age of 6 (start of primary) until the age of 18 are accepted at the school and there is a kindergarten on site for the younger ones. Class sizes are small with a maximum of 20 children and they are taught in mixed classes comprising Y1/2; Y3/4 and Y5/6. An international teaching team creates a caring learning environment for currently 60 children who are enrolled in the school.

Methodology
Open/flexible, activity-oriented learning, teamwork, double-lesson blocks

Entry assessment
Yes. From Year 3 differentiated weekly schedule
From Year 7 additional hour integrative support daily
Subject to charge support classes in the afternoon available

Support classes
1hour of integrated support during lessons,
additional support program in the afternoon (subject to charge)

Curriculum/Languages
German curriculum of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania in combination with the Spanish one
bilingual teaching
English at Primary school taught as a Foreign Language, from Year 6 Science,
from Year 9 about 90% of the scientific subjects taught in English,
Catalan lessons

Parent-teacher communication
2x a year general meetings
2x individual parent-teacher meetings
written interim report
additional consulting hours available

Academic degree
-Mittlere Reife/ Qualifizierter Realschulabschluss (for students graduating after the 10th grade)
-Fachhochschulreife (for students graduating after the 11th grade) -external
-Abitur = Hochschulreife (for students graduating after the 12th grade) -external

Examinations/ assessments
continuous assessment throughout school year,
no external examinations until Year 10

Timetable
Primary: 9am – 3pm
Secondary: 9am – 4:30pm

Student background
80% German-speaking countries (DE, AT, CH)
20% German-Spanish

Classroom equipment
Digital projector and screen, small library in each class, science laboratory with basic equipment will be extended

Investments
reconstruction measure of main building
sports hall on school grounds

Role of…
music: emphasis on sense of rhythm, singing, individual instrument lessons can be booked
sports: swimming in school´s own pool, November till March external sports hall
art: professional sculpture teaches art in broadest range
ICT: laptop available for each student, integrated into curriculum

School fees