VS KronesAdmission for 1st year classes occurs in January. For other years, admission is possible at any time providing there is space. There are no admission tests.
Freqently asked questions
BIPS-Krones (Bilingual Primary School) is a primary school with emphasis on languages and inclusion. English is used as the medium of instruction, alongside lessons held in German. All of our English teachers are native speakers. In each year, one class is an inclusive class. These classes are led by both primary school teachers and qualified special needs teachers.
BIPS-Krones is in the middle of Graz (Münzgrabenstraße 18) and pupils can easily reach us via public transport as well as on foot.
Public transport: Trams numbers 3 and 6 to the tramstop "Dietrichsteinplatz"
Currently there is no official curriculum for English in Austrian primary schools, although this will be the case in the near future.
At BIPS, English is taught in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the Council of Europe (CEFR). In years 1 and 2 English is taught to pre-A1 and A1 level in the four competence areas (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) and in years 3 and 4 it is taught to levels A1 and A2. Children with prior or advanced knowledge of the language receive differentiated instruction according to their language abilities.
Children who do not have German as their mother tongue can be granted exceptional status at our school for up to 24 months.
The ‘Behindertenreferat’ will provide transport for disabled children on application. Contact: Tel: +43 316 872 6443 Email: Turn on Javascript!
Non-German speaking students have to sit a German language test before they start with school and every six months afterwards in order to be graded in their German skills (MIKA-D Test). According to this test grade your child will either be put into a regular class in the following level (excellent skills) or a regular class on the same level (sufficient skills). The child has two years to achieve sufficient skills, during which time it holds a status as an extraordinary student.
In autumn we have an open day during which everyone is welcome to look around our school.
27 mother tongues are spoken at our school. Extra language classes are offered to support children with German as their second language.
In the 1st and 2nd class they receive 6 lessons a week with a native speaking English teacher. In the 3rd and 4th class they receive 7 lessons a week. 1 of these lessons is a traditional whole class English lesson. The remaining lessons are taught in a variety of ways; the class may be split into groups to allow small focused ability group work, or team taught with the class teacher, allowing the subject content to be delivered parallel in German and English. Subjects such as art, crafts, music and sport are often taught bilingually.
No, there are no fees, it is a state funded and regulated school.
You must live in Graz and have access to a safe school route.
BIPS is an Austrian primary school that has a very strong English focus. The curriculum is delivered in German and supported in English.
No, there is an intense course that non German speakers must attend when they first join the school. There are 15 lessons a week provided by specialist teachers out of the main classroom for some core subjects. After one year it is intended the children are at a level in German to restart the academic year.
In addition to our after-school-care programme, which extends from the end of the school day until 5pm, a similar programme is offered by the Hort in Kronesgasse. Contact: Tel: +43 316 872 2719 Email: Turn on Javascript!
There are no other languages taught as part of the curriculum, although some mother tongue languages are available as extra-curricular activities.
Enrollment in the after-school-care programme is possible from the end of April either through the ABI (Abteilung für Bildung und Integration / Department for Education and Inclusion) or through the school. Contact: Tel: +43 316 872 7450 Email: Turn on Javascript!
As we are fortunate enough to have so many English lessons, the native English speakers have the opportunity to further enhance and develop their English skills though differentiated focused groups. There are also extra-curricular English activities such Art or Computer Club available in the afternoon. This allows those students who are in the intense German class during some of the morning lessons the opportunity to further develop their English skills.
There is no direct route from BIPS to GIBS, but due to the international nature of our school, we have strong links with GIBS.