International School Ruhr is proudly situated in Germany’s growing energy and start-up capital, Essen. We are the Ruhr’s most established international school supporting international and local families seeking a high quality international education in the area.

We offer inquiry-based learning in all three sections of our school: Early Years, Primary Years and Secondary Years. Our school reflects the philosophy of our owners, the leading Swiss educational group SBW Haus des Lernens AG, which is aligned with the International Baccalaureate inquiry methodology, as well as the concept of student agency and the importance of real life context for learning.

IS Ruhr is accredited by the International Baccalaureate to offer the Primary Years Programme in our Early Years and Primary Years sections for students aged 3 to 12, followed by the Middle Years Programme in Grade 6-10 and the Diploma Programme in Grade 11 and 12. That makes IS Ruhr an IB Continuum School. IB Continuum Schools share a common philosophy – a  commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education – that we believe is important for our students.

The International Baccalaureate’s ten Learner Profile attributes are already a common language of learning throughout the whole school as we seek to live them and learn by them on a daily basis.

IS Ruhr is a thriving international community of over 30 nationalities. I warmly encourage all parents to get involved in the various events that are held throughout the year to support our students’ learning and our vibrant diversity. We are always seeking new partnerships to develop the school as an even stronger international hub of the region – reach out to us if you have ideas!

Our staff, students and parents enjoy close working relationships, which lead to great learning and a multitude of individual pathways towards the exciting futures of tomorrow in a caring environment.

As Head of School with school leadership experience in Singapore, Australia, France, Belgium and Germany, I work with my committed team to develop IS Ruhr’s potential as Essen’s centre for international learning for children aged 3-19.

Come and experience IS Ruhr in Essen for yourself by contacting our Admissions Manager, Tessa Zuhorn, on +49(0)201-479 104 09 or by email at info@is-ruhr.de.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

Simon Vanderkelen
Head of School
International School Ruhr in Essen

We take great pride in our inquiry-based approach to learning, our outstanding International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programm (MYP) in Grades 6 to 10, and our International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11 and 12.

Our school is an international community that supports its students to find real world links to make learning really matter. The well-being of our students is of paramount importance to us, as we believe that happy students learn best. We seek inspiration ourselves from our owners, the forward-thinking Swiss education group SBW Haus des Lernens AG, who constantly challenge us to help our students discover what their true passions and interests are. We then help them pursue them as they become learners for life!

• At IS Ruhr, we respect ourselves, our community, our differences and diversity, as well as change and the environment.
• At IS Ruhr, we reflect on our actions, our impact and our self-regulation. We reflect on our progress and our growth-mindset.
• At IS Ruhr, we connect to our community, our shared values and relationships. We learn by connecting ideas and experiences, as well as local and global concepts.

IS Ruhr is a welcoming international community. We coach each other to seek our full potential, pursue our passions and become responsible global citizens. We embrace diversity, eager to promote positive change by connecting understandings in purposeful learning environment.

Our learning values serve as the foundation for creating a positive and supportive learning environment and shape the way individuals engage with knowledge, challenges, and opportunities for growth.

• Innovative – thinking outside the box, entrepreneurs
• Respectful – principled, open-minded, sustainable
• Resilient – balanced, risk-takers
• Reflective – researchers, self-managers, inquirers
• Passionate – caring and compassionate
• Open-minded – communicators, global leadership

The SBW Model forms the backbone of our approach, focusing on three key questions: WHY, HOW, and WHAT. It is grounded in a deep understanding of societal needs, ensuring our solutions are relevant and effective.

WHY: We delve into the meaning, purpose, and motivation behind education to inspire and empower our learners.

HOW: Guided by the fractal concept, we embrace a holistic approach to learning, recognizing the interconnectedness of knowledge and skills.

WHAT: Our curriculum emphasizes values, essential skills, and future readiness, preparing individuals to thrive in society.

Parents, teachers, and educational researchers are pondering over the question of which skills are needed to both thrive in society and actively shape the future.  Our response, in collaboration with our Swiss school operator, SBW House of Learning AG, comprises six Future Skills that go beyond the curriculum and aim to develop and strengthen personality: Passion, Resilience, Global Identity, Sustainability, Thinking outside the box, and Entrepreneurship.