Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg

What Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg does

Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg is a state-run Gymnasium (secondary school) located on an island in the Tegeler See in Berlin-Reinickendorf, founded on May 4, 1922 by Wilhelm Blume and operating under the motto 'Lernen mit Kopf, Herz und Hand' (Learning with head, heart, and hand). It serves approximately 500 students across Sekundarstufe I and II (grades 7-12), with an annual intake of three classes of 28 students in grade 7, and offers an integrated boarding facility (Internat) operated on-site by tjfbg gGmbH. The school is designated a 'Schule besonderer pädagogischer Prägung' and combines standard Gymnasium curriculum with profile classes (Wassersport, Bläserklasse, Kunst, Biologie), practical programs in Inselgärtnerei, Imkerei, and Landwirtschaft with horses, cows, and sheep, the annual Scharfenberg Lectures (Schering Stiftung partnership), Model UN, and a 'Grünes Klassenzimmer' sustainability track.

The school is publicly funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Education, with no tuition charged for day students and boarding fees regulated by the Jugendamt. Operations span academic buildings, boarding facilities, agricultural and garden areas, sports fields, and waterfront access with sailing/rowing boat infrastructure, served by an on-site Mensa with catering provided by WISAG. Revenue is not commercially disclosed; funding flows from state allocation, regulated boarding fees, and ancillary grants from partners including Vattenfall Umweltstiftung, Beiersdorf, and the Schering Stiftung. Leadership transitioned in September 2023, with Matthias Waldow appointed as acting principal (amtierende Schulleitung) by the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family.

Name

Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg

Legal name

Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg

Website

https://insel-scharfenberg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg is a publicly funded Berlin state Gymnasium founded in 1922 on an island in Tegeler See, serving approximately 500 students in grades 7-12 with an integrated boarding facility, reform-pedagogy curriculum, and hands-on programs in water sports, agriculture, beekeeping, and environmental education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Gymnasium education
• Boarding school
• Reform pedagogy
• Experimental learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg is a state gymnasium (grades 7-12) with an integrated boarding school (Internat) located on an island in Tegeler See, Berlin-Reinickendorf. It delivers Abitur-track secondary education following reform pedagogy principles ("Lernen mit Kopf, Herz und Hand"), supplemented by hands-on programs in gardening, agriculture, beekeeping, water sports, and a Model UN conference. The boarding school facility is operated by the non-profit tjfbg gGmbH.

Product overview

Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg is a state-run gymnasium (secondary school) with an affiliated boarding school located on an island in Berlin's Tegeler See. The institution operates as a 'Schule besonderer pädagogischer Prägung' (school of special pedagogical emphasis) following reform pedagogical principles. The offering comprises core educational services including the gymnasium program (Klassen 7-12), residential boarding facilities, and specialized profile classes (Wassersport, Bläserklasse, Kunst, Biologie). The school distinguishes itself through practical learning projects including the Schulgärtnerei (school garden), Imkerei (beekeeping), Landwirtschaft (agriculture with horses, cows, sheep), Wassersport (sailing, rowing), and the Scharfenberg Lectures lecture series. It functions as a full-day school (Ganztagsschule) with approximately 500 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gymnasium (Sekundarstufe I & II) State gymnasium offering secondary education from class 7 to 12 (Abitur) following reform pedagogical principles ("Lernen mit Kopf, Herz und Hand"). For students aged approximately 12-19 in Berlin.
• Internat (Boarding School) Boarding facilities on the island operated by tjfbg gGmbH, providing residential accommodation for students aged 12-19 during the school week. For students requiring supervised residential education.
• Profilklassen (Profile Classes) Specialized elective tracks for grades 7-8 including Wassersport (water sports), Bläserklasse (brass band class), Kunst (art), and Biologie (biology). For students selecting a specialization upon entering the school.
• Scharfenberg Lectures Academic lecture series featuring Ernst Schering Prize winners and distinguished scientists speaking to students. In partnership with Schering Stiftung. For students and the school community.
• Model UN Program Model United Nations program hosting the annual Schulfarm Island MUN conference, with participation from students worldwide. For students interested in international affairs and diplomacy.
• Schulgärtnerei & Landwirtschaft (Garden & Agriculture Program) Practical horticultural and agricultural learning including the research garden, orchard, and animal husbandry with horses, cows, and sheep. For students as part of hands-on education.
• Imkerei (Beekeeping) School beekeeping program producing Scharfenberger Honig (honey) as part of sustainability education. For students participating in environmental and agricultural learning.
• Grünes Klassenzimmer (Green Classroom) Outdoor learning environment on the island supporting nature-based education and environmental studies. For students across all grades.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, major and core.

• BeiersdorfsupportingOthers · 1 January 2023Corporate partner whose employees participated in volunteer work days on the island. Company provided generous donation for upgrading the irrigation system. Employees assisted with garden maintenance and installed wildlife housing.
• Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH (BER)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Airport company employees participated in volunteer work to help establish the school's 'Forschergarten' (research garden), installing pathway curbstones and supporting infrastructure development.
• Vattenfall Umweltstiftung (Vattenfall Environmental Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Environmental foundation that has supported the school's sustainability initiatives, including planting of 37+ heritage fruit tree varieties and installation of irrigation systems for the island garden. Financed tree-planting actions as part of the school's 100th anniversary celebrations.
• Schering StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for the Scharfenberg Lectures series. The foundation sponsors lectures by Ernst Schering Prize winners, bringing distinguished scientists and cultural figures to the school. Speakers have included Prof. Dr. Jens Claus Brüning, Prof. Aviv Regev, Prof. Matthias Tschöp, and Maiken Nedergaard. This partnership provides students exclusive access to cutting-edge scientific knowledge and intellectual discourse.
• tjfbg gGmbH (Technische Jugendfreizeit- und Bildungsgesellschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization operates the boarding school (Internat) facility on the island. Provides residential care, educational support, and youth development programs for boarding students. Located at Haus 16, Schwarzer Weg 103.
• Unabhängiges Institut für UmweltfragenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with school for Klima-Visions-Werkstatt (Climate Visions Workshop), helping students develop projects for making the school more climate-friendly. Topics included building insulation, roof greening, and other sustainability measures.
• Kinder-Schutz-Zentrum BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild protection organization works with the school on child safeguarding. Provides dedicated contact and trust persons specifically designated for the school.
• WISAG (Catering)supportingOthersCatering company provides meals for the school's Mensa (cafeteria), including hot meals prepared on-site.
• Medienkompetenzzentrum MittesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia literacy center that provided parent information event on digital media and internet safety, funded by the school's Förderverein. Media pedagogue Anja Löffler conducted the session.
• Stiftung 'Gute Tat'supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation organized corporate volunteer days for the school, coordinating company employees to assist with maintenance and improvement projects on the island.
• Bio-Initiative OstmostsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic food initiative provided expertise for the school's heritage fruit tree planting project and contributed to the 2000m² World Garden international exchange program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Louisenlund Stiftung: German boarding school with international and sustainability profile, located on a waterfront campus. Comparable to Scharfenberg on boarding structure, environmental focus, and waterfront/water-sports programming.
• Schule Schloss Salem: Famous German reform-pedagogy boarding school (Kurt Hahn tradition) with practical learning and profile classes. Directly comparable to Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg on reform pedagogy, boarding structure, and elite secondary education positioning.
• Internat Solling: German co-educational boarding school (Gymnasium) with practical/hands-on learning tradition similar to Scharfenberg. Directly comparable as a state-affiliated Internat offering Abitur with experiential learning programs.
• CJD Braunschweig: CJD-operated Gymnasium and boarding facility with practical learning orientation. Comparable to Scharfenberg on the structure of a non-profit partner operating the boarding component alongside a state-recognized school.
• Birklehof: Reform-pedagogy boarding school in the Black Forest following Kurt Hahn principles. Comparable to Scharfenberg on boarding-plus-academic model with outdoor and project-based learning orientation.
• Landesschule Pforta: Historic German state-funded elite boarding Gymnasium in Saxony-Anhalt. Comparable to Scharfenberg as a publicly funded boarding school with strong academic profile and alumni network.

Regional players

• Helmholtz-Gymnasium Berlin: Berlin state Gymnasium with strong STEM/scientific profile and university preparation. Comparable to Scharfenberg as a Berlin state Gymnasium competing for academically strong cohorts, though without the boarding and reform-pedagogy differentiation.
• Evangelisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster: Historic Berlin Gymnasium with strong academic record and Abitur outcomes. Comparable to Scharfenberg as a Berlin state Gymnasium competing on academic reputation and university preparation outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• Berlin Brandenburg International School (BBIS): Larger international school near Berlin offering secondary education with boarding. Comparable to Scharfenberg as a Berlin-area boarding secondary school competing for international and premium-segment families.
• Freie Waldorfschule Berlin (Waldorf schools network): Network of Berlin Waldorf schools following Rudolf Steiner pedagogy with strong arts/practical learning emphasis. Comparable to Scharfenberg on reform-pedagogy positioning and holistic secondary education in the Berlin market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sischarfenberg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg