Deutsche Schule Helsinki

Address: Malminkatu 14, 00100 Helsinki, Finland.

Early childhood and preschool; Lower elementary; Upper elementary; High school.

The school is a private school focusing on German and Finnish languages and cultures.

The school has a multi-disciplinary student welfare team that meets regularly; the team includes a deputy head, school nurses, a school counselor, a school psychologist, coordinators, special education teachers and guidance counselors. The team provides confidential support and can offer temporary or ongoing support, including assessments and targeted learning support.

Germany

The school provides three stages: lower grades (1–5), upper grades (6–9), and upper secondary (10–12). In lower grades, German is taught as a foreign language, alongside English, Finnish as mother tongue, Finnish as second language, life stance education, Evangelical religion, crafts, music, and own-language instruction for grades 1–9. In upper grades, some subjects have curricula published only in German, including Chemistry, Biology, German, Finnish as mother tongue, English, Ethics, Evangelical Religion, French, Geography, History, Art, Latin (8–12), Swedish, Russian, and Sport, with Economics also offered in these grades. The upper secondary culminates in the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA), with Grade 10 as a preparatory phase and Grades 11–12 as the examination phase. The DIA yields two diplomas: a German university entrance qualification and a Finnish matriculation certificate, enabling direct admission to universities in Finland and Germany. The examination includes written tests in three subjects in January and oral tests in two subjects in March.

Graduates hold the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA), which serves as a university entrance qualification in both Finland and Germany. The DIA enables direct admission to higher education institutions in both countries.

DSH fosters responsibility, openness, and respect as core values that shape daily school life. Students, teachers, and parents share responsibility for independence, critical thinking, social interaction, and teamwork. The school promotes openness to different cultures and to new challenges, and it expects respectful behavior toward others. It emphasizes a welcoming climate that supports belonging and well-being, with explicit emphasis on social-emotional development. A community pedagogue and a school counselor support dialogue, conflict resolution, and inclusive interaction to strengthen the school's social-emotional learning. The environment also promotes sustainable attitudes and intercultural understanding as part of everyday learning.

Part-time special education is provided by a special education teacher in class, individually, or in small groups. Support can be temporary or ongoing and focuses on learning, study skills, and attention difficulties. Special education teachers coordinate the delivery of support with other teachers and plan interventions, using assessments to tailor learning. German and mathematics workshops provide targeted in-school support. Tutoring (tukiopetusta) is available for students with learning difficulties or those who need temporary subject support; it is temporary and free and is not homework help; Participation is required when offered. The school also coordinates with a multi-professional team, including school counselors and other staff, to address SEN needs.

The psychologist's duties include promoting mental health and well-being as well as learning and studying and preventive work. The psychologist carries out individual and group work to support emotional development, social interaction, and learning; They address concerns such as concentration or motivation difficulties, worries about life circumstances, anxiety or depression, and study-related difficulties. The school health nurse monitors students' growth, health, well-being, and implements periodic health checks as part of student health services. Mental health and well-being support is provided through counseling and preventive programs. A community pedagogue fosters class cohesion and open, respectful school culture and collaborates with teachers and counselors to support students' well-being.

Student matters are handled confidentially with the student and their guardians in accordance with agreed arrangements. A multi-professional student welfare team meets regularly to promote wellbeing and address support needs. The team includes a deputy head, school nurses, a school social worker, a school psychologist, coordinators, and both general and special education teachers. The team provides targeted support for issues such as bullying, family changes, attendance problems, mood concerns, and gender identity considerations. The community pedagogue supports an open, respectful school culture and collaborates with teachers and guardians to maintain a safe environment. The school's health services contribute to safeguarding by monitoring health and wellbeing and providing health counseling when needed.

1. Grundschule (Classes 1–5). The school offers German-language and Finnish-language streams for the early years. German-language classes (1A & 1C) admit children who come from German-speaking countries or who have German language skills at native level; Finnish-language class (1B) admits children who have Finnish as their mother tongue, have preschool experience, and will turn seven in the calendar year. Admissions for the first years occur at the start of the school year. Applications for Classes 1–5 follow two tracks: Deutschsprachige Klassen 1A/1C and Finnischsprachige Klasse 1B, with separate admission processes. Applications for Classes 2–5 are accepted for slots that may become available; deadlines include 28 July 2025 for summer vacancies and 16 March 2026 for the 2026–2027 cycle, with additional suitability testing on 1 August 2025 and 9 April 2026 if places exist. Application forms are “Antrag auf Aufnahme in die Klasse 1” and “Antrag auf Aufnahme in die Klassen 2–5.” Tuition is 336.50 Euro per semester. Parents must cover transport and accompaniment costs to the school; the city of Helsinki does not reimburse these costs because the school is private. Contacts: Kristin Hoffmann (German-speaking Primary Coordinator) and Kim Lähteenmäki (Finnish-speaking Primary Coordinator).

Lucie Frischknecht Scholarship: The Lucie Frischknecht scholarship is awarded annually to two recipients based on applications. The six-month scholarship amounts to 250 EUR per month.