Admissions criteria for Nelson Mandela school in Berlin
The FLEX classes of the early primary school (our years 1 and 2 are taught together) accept students who are fluent in English or German. All applicants on the English side have to prove their (native speaker) fluency in an oral English test. All applicants on the German side must also do an English test to demonstrate that they have sufficient passive knowledge of English (see the partner tongue criteria for details). 75% of all places in year 1 are reserved for children from highly mobile families whose parents are either members of the diplomatic corps or employed by the German Foreign Office, the German federal government, visiting scholars, the international media or companies operating internationally. The remaining 25% are given to children from Berlin who do not belong to that group.
Our upper primary school requires that students have English or German as mother tongue and a good working knowledge of the second language. As in the lower primary school, applicants have to pass a language test before they can be admitted. If the number of successful applicants exceeds the number of free places, priority is given to children from highly mobile families.
Students entering the lower or upper secondary school must pass an admission test. Here, too, highly mobile applicants are admitted on a preferential basis. The student will be required to take an admission exam only if we have places available.
Class 1: Students are admitted to class 1 through the local authority (Bezirksamt). The Nelson Mandela English faculty tests all students who have applied for a place at the school. Each student is recommended for the English or German Mother Tongue on the basis of the tests. The testers? results are binding. Prospective students are contacted directly by the local authority as to whether they have received a place for grade one.
Class 1 as of term 2: If places become available in the course of term one, students are admitted to the existing class one on the basis of the criteria for all existing classes.
Existing classes: All other classes admit students on the basis of availability in the following order of priority (class size may not exceed 26 students):
Children from families in which at least one parent works for the German foreign office
Children of families from abroad (priority is given to children from highly mobile families)
Siblings of students who are currently in school for at least one year
Children of families from Berlin who are highly mobile
Other children from Berlin
Additional criteria
All children can only be admitted if a place on the respective mother tongue side becomes available. The numerical balance between English mother tongue students and German mother tongue students must be maintained as described in the letter authorizing school operation (Genehmigungsschreiben) of the Nelson Mandela School. Children being admitted on the German mother tongue side must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English to be able to follow the curriculum in the class in which they seek admission. This is assessed through an English test for partner tongue.