IGS Süd

What IGS Süd does

IGS Süd (Integrierte Gesamtschule Süd Frankfurt am Main) is a public, government-run integrated comprehensive school located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, founded in 2016 and operated by the City of Frankfurt under Hessian state education law. The school serves students in secondary years 5 through 10, drawn primarily from the Frankfurt metropolitan area, and is structured into two pedagogical phases: 'Kleine Kontinente' (years 5-7) and 'Große Kontinente' (years 8-10). Education is delivered through a distinctive model that removes traditional numeric grading, replaces it with competency-based feedback and developmental reports, and routes daily instruction through self-directed learning blocks (Fachbüro) in German, Mathematics, and English, supported by workshops (Werkstätten) across IT, crafts, arts, and languages, plus project-based interdisciplinary subjects (Fach Leben, Fach Verantwortung) and an off-site 'Herausforderung' challenge for year 8. Inclusion is a structural feature rather than a separate program, with multi-professional teams combining teachers from varied school-type backgrounds, youth welfare workers, and participation assistants.

The school's digital footprint is built on standard public-sector infrastructure: a Moodle-based Schulportal hosted on the Hessian school portal, integrated with the Mahara e-portfolio and a shared calendar, with student-managed Logbuch/Week Planner tools for self-pacing. International programming is a third pillar of the offering, executed through Erasmus+ accredited exchanges with partner schools in Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Poland, and Norway. The school has been recognized with the Hessian Inclusion Prize (2023, first place, School category), the Frankfurt Sustainability Prize (2022), and the Montagsstiftung Award for educational innovation (2016), and has received international academic visits including a research stay by an Associate Professor from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in early 2025.

As a German public school, IGS Süd generates no commercial revenue. It is funded through the municipal education budget of the City of Frankfurt and the state of Hesse, charges no tuition, and supplements this with voluntary contributions collected by the Freundeskreis (Friends and Supporters Association). Ancillary services such as lunch catering are outsourced to GegGastro. Following structural defects in the main Sachsenhausen building, IGS Süd has operated across two temporary sites since August 2025 (Biegweg 41 in Bockenheim for years 5-7 and Villa Süd in Sachsenhausen for years 8-10), with consolidation planned by summer 2026. In January 2026 founding principal Uwe Gehrmann retired and was succeeded by Silke Henningsen.

Name

IGS Süd

Legal name

IGS Süd (Integrierte Gesamtschule Frankfurt am Main)

Website

https://igs-sued.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IGS Süd is a public integrated comprehensive school (Integrierte Gesamtschule) in Frankfurt am Main, founded in 2016, serving students in years 5-10 with a competency-based, no-grades, self-directed and inclusive learning model. Funding comes from the City of Frankfurt; no tuition is charged.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main (Bockenheim)

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a public school in Frankfurt, IGS Süd is funded by the city of Frankfurt and the state of Hesse. No tuition fees are charged to students. The school operates as part of the public education system.
2. Parent Association Contributions: The 'Verein der Freunde und Förderer der IGS Süd Frankfurt e.V.' (Friends and Supporters Association) collects voluntary contributions from parents to enhance learning and teaching conditions beyond what public funding provides.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IGS Süd is a public integrated comprehensive school (Integrierte Gesamtschule) in Frankfurt am Main that delivers state-recognized secondary education for grades 5 through 10 under an inclusive, non-tracking model. The school sells no products and operates as a publicly funded educational institution whose core service is structured classroom instruction, with students able to earn either the Hauptschulabschluss or Realschulabschluss upon completion of grade 10.

Product overview

IGS Süd is an inclusive secondary school (Integrierte Gesamtschule, years 5–10) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, operating two campuses (Biegweg 41 for years 5–7 and Textorstr. 111 / Holbeinstr. 15 for years 8–10). The school's educational program is built on three structural pillars — Fachbüro (self-directed daily learning blocks in German, Math, and English), Werkstätten (practical/aesthetic workshops across IT, crafts, arts, and languages), and project-based interdisciplinary learning — complemented by three signature programs: the integrated subject 'Leben' (Life), the civic-engagement subject 'Verantwortung' (Responsibility), and the off-site 'Herausforderung' (Challenge) project for yeargang 8. The school also operates a Moodle-based Schulportal, an Erasmus+-accredited international exchange program, and a competency-based assessment system replacing traditional grades with learning development reports and certificates. Catering is outsourced to GegGastro.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Integrated Secondary School Program (Grades 5-10) Public secondary school education program for grades 5 through 10 in an inclusive, non-tracking classroom setting; concludes with the Hauptschulabschluss or Realschulabschluss qualifications.
• Hauptschulabschluss and Realschulabschluss Qualifications State-recognized secondary school leaving certificates awarded to students upon successful completion of grade 10, qualifying them for vocational training or further academic schooling.
• Transition Pathway to Gymnasium Upper-Secondary Track Structured academic track enabling graduates who wish to pursue the Abitur to transition to a partnering Gymnasium upper-secondary school after completing grade 10.

Quantifiable outcome

• All students achieve at least Hauptschulabschluss and Realschulabschluss through mandatory exams in grades 9 and 10, providing security in academic pathways regardless of chosen upper secondary route

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Partner School in Kreisau (Poland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Exchange program including visit to Groß-Rosen work camp memorial for historical education. Students engaged in group work and discussion about European values and historical remembrance.
• IES Luis de Góngora (Valladolid, Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Erasmus+ partnership focusing on 'cultural identity' exchange. 15 students and 2 learning coaches participated in April 2026 exchange exploring cultural similarities and differences between Germany and Spain. Students learned about Spanish traditions including Semana Santa and visited Salamanca.
• Istituto Superiore San Paolo (Sorrento, Italy)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Long-running Erasmus+ partnership 'Strade Maestre: Active Citizens Across Borders' focused on active citizenship education. Includes both group exchanges and individual student exchanges. Multiple visits between schools in Frankfurt and Sorrento since 2023.
• César-Franck-Athenäum (Kelmis, Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Partnership focused on 'Europe - a place for everyone' theme. Includes 4-day exchange in Belgium working on inclusive Europe concepts and visit to European Parliament in Brussels.
• Collège/Lycée in Marseille, FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Erasmus+ exchange focused on cultural differences between Germany and France and aspects of social and ecological sustainability. 11 students and 2 learning coaches participated in week-long exchange including visits to Parc National des Calanques and historical sites.
• FEDAC Barcelona (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2024Erasmus+ project 'Urban Biodiversity' with focus on green roofs and urban ecology. Exchange visit November 2024 exploring biodiversity in Frankfurt and Barcelona through presentations and museum visits.
• Ensemble Modern (International Music Ensemble)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Education project bringing professional musicians to work with approximately 60 students in 5-day music project 'Rhythmisch Arythmisch' as part of the International Ensemble Modern Academy.
• Naturschule Hessen (Nature School Hesse)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Citizens' initiative at the former airport in Bonames focused on environmental sustainability education. Students visit to learn about urban green initiatives and sustainability practices.
• Adoption Kitchen (Adakantine) near Senckenberg MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Neighborhood initiative providing free meals to anyone in need, run entirely by volunteers through donations. Students learn about community service and solidarity.
• GegGastrominorOthersExternal catering company providing daily hot lunch meals for students through an online ordering portal. Handles meal selection, ordering, billing, and dietary accommodations.
• Global Goals NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals) initiative, providing framework for the 'Fach Leben' curriculum focused on sustainability education.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fritz-Karsen-Schule Berlin: Berlin integrated comprehensive school (IGS) known for inclusive education and progressive pedagogy, directly comparable to IGS Süd's inclusion and competency-based approach.
• Helene-Lange-Schule Wiesbaden: Integrierte Gesamtschule in Wiesbaden (Hesse) sharing the same state policy environment as IGS Süd and operating a similar integrated secondary model with mixed-ability classes.
• Laborschule Bielefeld: State school at Bielefeld University running a long-established alternative, project-based, inclusion-oriented pedagogy without traditional grades. Highly comparable to IGS Süd's competency-based, self-directed learning model.
• Glockseeschule Hannover: Alternative primary/secondary school in Hannover with project-based, self-directed learning and inclusive pedagogy, sharing IGS Süd's rejection of early tracking and traditional grading.
• Freie Schule Anne-Sophie: State-recognized alternative school with individualized learning and inclusive pedagogy; comparable to IGS Süd's competency-based assessment and self-directed study model.

Regional players

• Karl-Rehbein-Schule Hanau: Hessian IGS in Hanau sharing the same state education framework as IGS Süd and serving a comparable family demographic in the Rhine-Main region.
• Helene-Lange-Schule Frankfurt: Frankfurt-area IGS with inclusive secondary education, operating in the same city as IGS Süd and competing for the same families seeking non-Gymnasium alternatives.

Others

• Montagsstiftung: Foundation supporting innovative German school development including the Phase Null concept that IGS Süd used; an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct operating competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/igs-s%C3%BCd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about IGS Süd