We are preparing for BLI 3.0: Commitment to German educational quality

More than a destination, quality is a path that is constantly under construction. For more than six years, at the Deutsche Schule Medellín (German School Medellín), we have been working in a structured, participatory and conscious manner towards BLI 3.0 (Bund-Länder-Inspektion), the most important inspection carried out by the German educational authorities on German schools abroad.

The BLI is coordinated by the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA) and seeks to evaluate and strengthen the pedagogical quality of institutions that are part of the DAS (Deutsche Auslandsschulen). Passing this inspection confirms the School as a German School of Excellence Abroad, guarantees the continuity of German state support and aligns our work with the highest international standards.

A thorough and meaningful preparation

Following the last comprehensive visit in 2019, we embarked on a process of continuous improvement that has involved the entire community. One of the pillars of this preparation has been the creation of the Schulentwicklungsplan, or School Development Plan, which articulates more than ten strategic areas. These include strengthening German language learning, developing individualised support concepts and learning methods, pedagogical use of digital tools, and the documentation of administrative and academic processes.

“We have worked on these issues through internal and external training, specialist consulting, and the active participation of our academic and administrative teams” explains Anke Käding, Headteacher of the School. The inspection is not an isolated event, it is part of an institutional process that reinforces the school’s multicultural, trilingual, and high standard identity.

One of the most valuable spaces within this route was the Workshop of the Future (Zukunftswerkstatt), a collective exercise that brought all employees together to reflect on the present and future of the school. The ideas generated there have directly fed into the School Development Plan and have made it possible to align daily actions with the Quality Framework defined by Germany.

Solid progress and focus on the pedagogical.

Amongst the most visible advances are the joint work of the School's Training and Pedagogical Development Centre with the Steuergruppe (school development management group), as well as the creation of a common concept of learning methods, which allows students to actively take ownership of their learning process. At the same time, we have strengthened individualised support, with the aim of ensuring that each teacher is aware of their students' level of development, their strengths and areas for improvement, and can adapt their teaching accordingly.

We have also promoted the strategic use of digital tools, with projects such as Mi Clase Digital (My Digital Classroom), which enable Mittelstufe and Oberstufe to integrate technology in favour of active learning, without losing the necessary balance with spaces for human and social development.

Sonia Garcés, a member of the Steuergruppe, clearly summarizes this process “We have prepared ourselves calmly and consciously, always remaining faithful to the school's quality profile and guiding principles. We know there is much to be done, and we are keeping our focus on the essentials”.

BLI 3.0 will not only validate all the progress made, but will also provide new impetus for further improvement. During the short visit in 2023, the inspector noted with satisfaction how the school consistently integrated the suggestions and developed the proposed projects.

Preparation for BLI 3.0 reflects our ongoing commitment to a demanding thoughtful education, with an international outlook. We invite you to learn more about our educational model and the path of quality that we follow every day. Visit our admissions section at www.dsmedellin.edu.co