Our Primary School Curriculum

Our Primary School curriculum consists of the Australian Curriculum and the Victorian Essential Learning Standards with adaptations from the Thuringia (German) curriculum.

The Thuringia curriculum includes the 'Grundschullehrplan' for lower and middle primary and the 'Realschullehrplan' for upper primary. High performing students have the option of participating in acceleration programs which have been adapted from the German 'Gymnasiallehrplan'.

We continuously review the school's curriculum and make changes and improvements. When there are academic differences between the two curricula, our curriculum aligns with the higher academic standards.

By combining the curricula of both countries, students are able to integrate and make smooth transitions between the Australian and German school systems.

Our school endeavours to include topics from both cultures into classroom activities so that students will benefit from a bilingual and bicultural education.

Deutsche Schule Melbourne is an accredited 'German School Abroad' by the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen - ZfA) as well as a registered primary school by the VRQA. We take part in all Australian benchmark testing (eg. NAPLAN) and fulfill all quality standards which are posed on Victorian schools under the Schools Performance Framework.

Please click here for more detailed information about our curriculum and student learning outcomes.

Mathematics

At Deutsche Schule Melbourne, we merge the Victorian and German Mathematics curricula:

  • In the early years, the curricula are taught exclusively in the German language
  • From Year 3 onwards, one Mathematics lesson a week is taught in English and follows the Victorian curriculum. This helps students understand and develop their Mathematics terminology
  • Every other lesson is taught in German and incorporates both curricula

Because the German curriculum is more advanced than the Victorian curriculum, so is our level of Mathematics. Many of our alumni have said that the advanced Mathematics education they received at DSM has helped them to excel in their early high school years. 

However, we understand that every child learns in different ways and at varied paces. That’s why we offer group and individual plans for students who need extra support.

The contrast between Mathematics in Germany and Australia is more prominent in higher year levels. These differences include:

  • Students learn to think more abstractly in German Mathematics allowing them to develop mathematical concepts
  • In the German curriculum, students are taught various mathematical strategies to solve a single problem
  • The Victorian curriculum extends numbers earlier, but the German curriculum concentrates on algorithms before extensions
  • The Australian curriculum has a stronger focus on modelling and probability, while the German curriculum emphasises arithmetic and algebra
  • The Victorian curriculum introduces topics earlier, however the German curriculum covers them more comprehensively

ICT & STEAM

Our curriculum covers both Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

However, we integrate ICT in all aspects of school life. This includes using laptops and iPads to create content and robots to help with spelling. We also incorporate Osmo activities (i.e. games which blend digital and physical play) and technology projects into our lessons.

The following are examples of some initiatives we have in these areas:

  • Curricular arts and music classes
  • Scientists in school programs
  • Engineering-related excursions
  • School concerts
  • Art exhibitions