Platanus School Berlin

Platanus Schule Berlin is located at Berliner Straße 12, 13187 Berlin, Germany. The building is the former Pankow Post Office, a listed historic property housing the school. It lies in the Berlin-Pankow district with access to local public transport links. The school comprises a bilingual kindergarten and a Gemeinschaftsschule offering primary and secondary education, with an upper secondary level approved to start in August 2024.

Kindergarten; Primary and Secondary School (Years 1–10). Upper secondary level (Years 11–13) approved to start in August 2024.

Bilingual Gemeinschaftsschule (community school) and state-recognised private school with a STEM (MINT) focus.

Erzieherinnen provide class-based support, including language acquisition and assistance during Ganztag and study periods; the school emphasises individual attention and small classes as part of its learning support.

Germany

Ganztag provides full-day learning from morning to afternoon with a rhythmised daily routine. Each class is supported by a Class Erzieherinnen during lessons and in the Ganztag, with over 30 clubs offered and meals in the canteen. All-day care runs from 6 am to 6 pm for Years 1–6 as part of an extended program.

Application fees

- Trial days/assessment: a fee of EUR 30 is charged per trial day for students invited to trial lessons or trial days.

Tuition fees (Years 1–13)

- Tuition is income-based and the same for all students in Years 1 to 13; the school calculates the monthly tuition from the family's joint annual gross income and bills the yearly contribution in 12 monthly instalments.

- Representative monthly tuition amounts by annual gross income band (monthly amount — equivalent annual amount):
- Up to EUR 30,000 — EUR 100 per month (EUR 1,200 per year).
- Up to EUR 45,000 — EUR 236 per month (EUR 2,832 per year).
- Up to EUR 60,000 — EUR 295 per month (EUR 3,540 per year).
- Up to EUR 75,000 — EUR 353 per month (EUR 4,236 per year).
- Up to EUR 90,000 — EUR 412 per month (EUR 4,944 per year).
- Up to EUR 120,000 — EUR 471 per month (EUR 5,652 per year).
- EUR 150,000 and above — EUR 530 per month (EUR 6,360 per year).

- Discounts and minimums:
- Loyalty discount: a EUR 50 monthly loyalty discount applies from the 5th year of a child's affiliation to the kindergarten and/or school; the monthly fee remains at least EUR 100 per child even after discounts.
- Sibling discount: the second-oldest and each additional child pay 50% of the income-based monthly tuition (calculated without the loyalty discount for the eldest child). Only one of the two discounts (loyalty or sibling) applies to a single child.

- Note on increases: the published fee schedule shows an indexing/increase plan; parents should expect scheduled annual increases as set out in the published fee framework.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition is charged as a yearly contribution and billed in 12 monthly instalments.
- The first monthly instalment is due at the start of the school year (beginning of August) and the final instalment is due by the start of July of the following year; instalments are payable monthly across the school year.

- Additional payment schedules:
- The collective fund (Sammelkasse) of EUR 285 per school year is normally due at the beginning of the school year or can be paid in monthly instalments on request.
- Cost-sharing for before-and-after-school care (primary level) is determined separately under Berlin regulations and is due on the official start of the school year (early August) through to early July. Typical parental shares for after-school care range approximately EUR 16 to EUR 194 per month (dependent on income, sibling status and hours).

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable. Platanus operates as a day kindergarten and a day primary/secondary community school with before- and after-school care options rather than residential boarding.

Other costs and recurring fees

- Collective fund (Years 1–13): EUR 285 per school year to cover teaching and learning materials, class funds, entrance fees and a solidarity contribution; due at the school-year start or payable in instalments on request.

- Lunch/catering:
- Primary Level (Years 1–6): lunch costs are waived under the Berlin Senate free-lunch regulation (no parental lunch charge).
- Secondary Level (Years 7–13): optional lunch at EUR 81.10 per month.

- Before- and after-school care (primary level): separate contract and separate fees apply; parental cost-sharing is set by Berlin youth services and varies by income/siblings and hours used (approx. EUR 16–194 per month as a guide).

- Class trips and excursions: costs vary by year group and duration and are charged in addition to tuition.

- Clubs and extra-curricular partner activities: participation fees apply; example rate published is EUR 40 per 15 minutes of club duration per school year (e.g., approx. EUR 160 for a weekly 60-minute club across the school year).

- Locker hire: listed as cost-free as of recent entries for students from Year 3.

- Kindergarten-specific contributions (where relevant): voluntary monthly co-payments for kindergarten facilities and concept support currently around EUR 50 per month; the Berlin Senate charges a lunch contribution of EUR 23 per month for kindergarten lunches and an additional snack provision fee is shown at EUR 25 per month.

- Trial-day insurance/attendance: trial days are charged (EUR 30 per trial day) and trial-day attendance is covered by school insurance while on campus.

Refunds and fee adjustments

- Refunds and fee adjustments are governed by the school's fee regulations and the enrollment contract. The school's fee rules include a hardship provision (Härtefallregelung) under which families may apply for reductions or exemptions in justified cases (for example, low gross annual income). The collective fund can be waived in some cases (e.g., BuT pass recipients or hardship).

Fee payment options

- Payment mechanisms are handled through the school's contracting and payment processes; the school and its parent association use SEPA direct-debit mandates for recurring payments and the parent association documents state that cash or invoicing is not used for membership payments. The enrollment contract and contractual documentation specify the exact payment method to be used for tuition and related charges.

Summary of immediate amounts to expect on enrolment

- Possible one-off/early charges at or before admission: trial-day fee(s) if applicable (EUR 30 per trial day); collective fund (EUR 285) due at school-year start unless otherwise agreed; first monthly tuition instalment due at the start of the school year (monthly amount depends on family income band).