OSK Offene Schule Köln gGmbH

Name

OSK Offene Schule Köln gGmbH

Legal name

OSK Offene Schule Köln gGmbH

Website

https://offene-schule-koeln.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inclusion Facilitation & Classroom Accommodation/Modification Support (EDAKABAD), Inclusive Education (Disability, Gender Equity, Marginalized Learners) (BPADAKAI)

Keywords

• Inclusive primary education
• Inclusive secondary education
• Reform-pedagogical schooling
• Replacement school NRW
• School-based inclusion support

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln (Cologne)

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Staatliche Ersatzschulfinanzierung (State Replacement School Funding): The school receives government funding equivalent to approximately 87% of the norm costs of a public school. Due to the higher costs associated with its inclusive concept, the effective coverage is approximately 80%. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Freiwillige Elternbeiträge (Voluntary Parent Contributions): Parents are asked to make voluntary monthly contributions: €160/month for Gesamtschule and €100/month for Grundschule. These are legally classified as 'Schulgeld' up to €1,800/year, allowing 30% tax deductibility as Sonderausgabe. This is the primary mechanism for covering the ~13% gap not funded by the state.
3. Geldspenden (Cash Donations): Individual and corporate donations from private individuals, companies, and foundations. All donations are tax-deductible. The school receives approximately 13% of its budget from donations and voluntary contributions combined.
4. Elternaktivität / Zeitspenden (Parental Activity / Time Contributions): Parents contribute approximately 20 hours per year of practical work (maintenance, kitchen help, event support, garden care, etc.) as part of the school's community model. This is a non-monetary contribution reducing operational costs.
5. Mensa/Betreuungskosten (Cafeteria & After-School Care Fees): Compulsory cafeteria costs (Verpflegungskosten) and OGS (Ganztagsbetreuung) fees for Grundschule are charged like at public schools, currently €70/month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OSK Offene Schule Köln operates a state-recognized inclusive primary and secondary school (Grundschule and Gesamtschule with Gymnasiale Oberstufe and Berufspraxisstufe) in Cologne using a reform-pedagogical approach with mixed-age learning groups, individualized learning paths, and continuous feedback. Education is offered from enrollment through the Abitur with no compulsory tuition, supported by a pool-model inclusion support system of approximately 110 Inklusionsbegleiter:innen, an on-site Mampferia cafeteria, and the Café Projekt Blaupause social enterprise.

Product overview

OSK Offene Schule Köln gGmbH operates as an inclusive educational organization offering a unified portfolio of school-based products and support services. The core educational offerings include Grundschule (primary school) and Gesamtschule (secondary school) with integrated Gymnasiale Oberstufe (upper secondary/Abitur program) and Berufspraxisstufe (vocational practice level). These are complemented by support services including Inklusionsbegleitung (inclusion support) and Mampferia (pedagogical cafeteria), alongside social enterprises such as Café Projekt Blaupause and the OSK Innovationlab for educational innovation. The organization follows a reform pedagogical approach with mixed-age learning groups, individualized learning paths, and continuous feedback without traditional grades until grade 8. Founded in 2012, the school operates as a state-recognized substitute school in voluntary trusteeship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grundschule (Primary School) Inclusive primary school program offering reform-pedagogical education for children from enrollment through elementary completion, featuring mixed-age learning groups, continuous feedback instead of traditional grades, and individualized learning paths. Designed for families seeking an alternative to the standard public school system.
• Gesamtschule (Secondary School) Inclusive secondary school covering grades 5–10 with state-recognized graduation paths, featuring individualized learning in mixed-age groups and comprehensive student support services. Leads toward Hauptschulabschluss, Mittlerer Schulabschluss, or transition into the Gymnasiale Oberstufe or Berufspraxisstufe.
• Gymnasiale Oberstufe (Upper Secondary / Abitur) Upper secondary program enabling students to earn the Abitur (university entrance qualification) through individualized learning times (Lernzeiten), the Logbuch learning logbook system, and ILEP development conversations, with approximately 45 students per year group supported by 3–4 tutors each.
• Berufspraxisstufe (Vocational Practice Level)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students can achieve all state-recognized German school-leaving qualifications, from Hauptschulabschluss through Abitur, depending on individual development
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Reha-Abteilung der Agentur für Arbeit Köln (Rehabilitation Department of the Employment Agency Cologne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Reha-Abteilung supports students in the Berufspraxisstufe with career orientation, transition planning, and connections to vocational training and employment opportunities. This partnership is central to the school's vocational preparation mission for students with intellectual disabilities.
• Integrationsfachdienst Köln (Integration Specialist Service Cologne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks alongside the school to support students with special needs during their transition from school to the workplace, providing specialized integration support and counseling.
• Netzwerk Inklusive Schule Köln e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe founding association and largest shareholder (41%) of OSK gGmbH. The network manages the solidarity model (Solidarmodell), conducts intake conversations with prospective families, administers donations and contributions, and supports school projects. It serves as the community anchor and governance body for the school's inclusive mission.
• Jugendzentrum LOFT 99minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA youth center affiliated with the OSK community, offeringBufdis placement opportunities and extracurricular engagement for OSK students.
• BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) — Laugh and Learn TV WorkshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC conducted a one-day 'Laugh and Learn TV Workshop' at OSK, where students from primary to upper secondary learned about film and television production in English. Two BBC moderators led sessions on camera, lighting, acting, and production, with students creating their own TV content.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Helene-Lange-Schule Wiesbaden: Long-standing reform school (established 1927) practicing jahrgangsübergreifender Unterricht and individualized learning paths. Similar reform pedagogical philosophy and inclusion orientation to OSK.
• Laborschule Bielefeld: University-affiliated reform school at Universität Bielefeld with mixed-age groups, individualized learning, and absence of traditional grading. One of Germany's most cited reform school prototypes and the closest conceptual analogue to OSK's model.
• Freie Schule Frankfurt: Private reform school in Frankfurt offering inclusive K-12 education with mixed-age learning. Comparable operating model and pedagogical framework to OSK.
• Fläming-Schule Berlin: Independent inclusive Ersatzschule in Berlin combining Grundschule and Sekundarstufe, with individualized learning and mixed-age groups. Direct parallel model to OSK in a different German urban market.
• Evangelische Jugendhilfe Godesheim (Schulbereich): Evangelische school and youth welfare provider in the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg area offering inclusive educational pathways. Comparable K-12 + vocational model and inclusion support infrastructure.
• Internationale Friedensschule Köln: Independent inclusive school in Cologne serving primary and secondary students, including provision for children with special needs. Direct local comparability in the same Cologne market.
• Rudolf Steiner Schule (Waldorf) Frankfurt: Established Waldorf school in Frankfurt offering individualized learning through Grade 12-13. The Waldorf movement is the largest alternative pedagogical movement in Germany and a key reference point for OSK's mixed-age, no-traditional-grades approach.
• Montessori Centrum München: Large Montessori school in Munich combining K-12 with inclusion elements. Comparable in individualized learning approach and parent-funded independent school model.

Others

• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (gGmbH): Non-profit gGmbH educational institution in Germany. Useful structural reference for non-profit educational gGmbH operations, though focused on higher education rather than K-12.
• Helmholtz-Gymnasium Heidelberg: While public, this gymnasium is a useful comparator for the upper-secondary cohort size and tutor-to-student ratio (~45 students per year cohort with 3-4 tutors) that OSK's gymnasiale Oberstufe mirrors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/offeneschulekoeln
• Instagraminstagram.com/offeneschulekoeln
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/osk-offene-schule-k%C3%B6ln-ggmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 OSK Offene Schule Köln gGmbH