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Germany, Hamburg
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WABE International School was founded by WABE e.V., an organization with more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education. Planning began in 2014 to bridge WABE's early-childhood concept with primary and secondary education, and construction started in 2015 at Pinneberg. The school opened in September 2016 with 13 students from 10 families and was accredited by the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Education. It earned International Baccalaureate World School accreditation in 2019 and graduated its first IB Diploma Programme students in June 2021. The school has grown to around 240 students representing 47 nationalities, and in June 2022 it adopted the name “WABE International School” to reflect its broader lifelong-learning mission. WABE e.V. remains active in guiding and financially supporting the school; the school board includes two WABE CEOs and another member.
WABE International School identifies itself as an international, diverse, and inclusive community. It pursues the discovery of the World, Self, and Others through progressive pedagogy with the goal of empowering students to unfold their talents and become compassionate human beings. The school emphasizes that learning should be fun, that students should feel safe, that healthy relationships are essential, and that experimentation and mistakes should be encouraged. The school views learning as a social activity shared by students and teachers, with a commitment to respect and mutual support within the community.
The school has a Supporter's Association (Förderverein) dedicated to making WABE International School affordable for all. It provides a constitution (Förderverein Constitution), a fee structure (Förderverein Fee Structure), and a membership application form (Förderverein Membership Application Form). A SEPA form (SEPA Form) is also available for payments. These documents show the association's framework for membership and contributions.
The school is an Ersatzschule in Schleswig-Holstein and an IB World School in Pinneberg, Germany, serving students aged 6 to 18. The main language of instruction is English, with German taught in parallel and a native German track aligned to Schleswig-Holstein's curriculum. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is offered for the grades, and a German language track supports native speakers. The pedagogy follows Progressive Education, implemented through Project-Based Learning and Social-Emotional Learning, with interdisciplinary courses and student agency in creating projects. Primary School integrates English and German literacy, includes play across curricula, and provides native German instruction by native speakers. Middle School emphasizes depth in interdisciplinary learning, linking algebra in Geography and literature in Art. The campus features a barefoot nature path and a 3D printer for prototyping. The afternoon program extends learning with project-based activities. CAS and language development are central to IB DP, preparing students for study worldwide.
