Education & Schooling in Germany

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Education & Schooling in Germany

Below is an overview of the school system in Germany, international schools and information for parents regarding how to find a school, enrolment, and the school year.

The Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) regulates general education policy in Germany. However, educational policy is mostly decided at a state level, limiting the ministry's influence.

• General information on education is available in English on the BMBF website: Click here

The Education System

Compulsory schooling starts at the age of 6 and lasts for 12 or 13 years depending on the area of residence within Germany. 

Although homeschooling is not not allowed in Germany there have been a few cases in recent years of parents applying to their local authorities and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to be allowed to do so. Home schooling remains an area of uncertainty in Germany which looks set to change in the future, especially in the southern states. 

• For further information: Click here (in German)

All compulsory public sector schools are free of charge. Children first attend primary school (Grundschule) from the age of 6 to 10 and then lower secondary school from 10 to 15 or 16. Part-time compulsory education continues beyond that age up to 18 for those who are not enrolled in a full-time school.

Pupils attending general and vocational schools are entitled to financial assistance under the BaföG (law on financial assistance for students) from the tenth year provided they have no other income or financial means. The level of assistance is fixed on the basis of the pupil's personal resources and parental income.

Continuous assessment based on written examinations and oral contributions is universal practice at all levels.

Religious instruction is currently under debate. Religious instruction is the only school subject mentioned in the German constitution and only Bremen, Brandenburg and Berlin do not offer religious instruction as part of the regular curriculum. Children can attend the extra classes offered at the schools though. Children over the age of 14 can opt out of religious instruction. 

In November 2006 compulsory ethics instruction was introduced in Berlin for children in Years 7 to 10 with exemptions only permitted for valid and justifiable reasons. 

• For further information: Click here 

Pre-School

From the ages of 3 to 6, children can attend a kindergarten. These are run either by charity associations (Verbände der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege) or by the local authorities. Private kindergartens are also available in major cities, especially for international children. Attendance at either kindergartens or pre-school classes is voluntary.

In some federal states, 5-year-olds may also be registered in pre-school classes (Vorklassen) for special assistance and preparation for primary school.

Primary Education

Children attend the primary school of their area of residence. Learning material will be provided free of charge or may be borrowed from the school. Depending on income, parents may be required to meet part of the cost.

Children are offered the opportunity to learn a first foreign language while at primary school (depending on individual states' legislation, from first, second or third year).

In primary schools, pupils are not assessed until their second year. To move up to subsequent years they need to fulfil certain minimum requirements in all relevant subjects. Failure in their performance means that they must repeat the year. Pupils may also skip a year if their performance is above standard. This is voluntary and a decision must be agreed by both parents and the school administration.

Lower Secondary Education

There are different types of secondary school, depending on pupils' interests and abilities. In some federal states admission to the various types of secondary school may be subject to certain performance criteria or a decision by the education authority.

At lower secondary school levels, pupils learn one foreign language (usually English) at the Hauptschule and may choose a second optional language in the Realschule (usually French). In the Gymnasium the teaching of two foreign languages is compulsory.

Hauptschule

At Hauptschule pupils receive a basic general education from years 5 to 9 (age 10 to 15). These schools are for children that are planning to begin vocational training after years 9 or 10.  At the end of year 9 pupils receive a general leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss). Once they have received their school certificate they will go on to part-time vocational study.

Attendance for a tenth year is voluntary and grants pupils an additional qualification, the extended Hauptschulabschluss.

Realschule

Pupils normally attend from year 5 to year 10. The Realschule leaving certificate grants students access to training courses leading to vocational qualifications or to further schooling which can lead to higher-education entrance.

Gymnasium

Pupils receive a more in-depth general education between the 5th to 13th year of school leading to the Abitur examination for university entrance. The Abitur aims at achieving high levels in a number of different subjects. Success at the Abitur, the final examination, results in the higher-education entrance qualification (Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife).

Gesamtschule

Comprehensive schools have joined the tier-system of Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium in some federal states: available for classes 5 to 9 or 10, their curriculum combines the courses found in the other school types. In classes 5 and 6 all pupils are taught together, regardless of performance.

Vocational Schooling

After year 9 or 10, pupils may choose to spend the next three years preparing for professional careers. Training is offered in the following kind of schools:

• Full-time vocational school (Berufsfachschule)
• Vocational extension school (Berufsaufbauschule)
• Technical secondary school (Fachoberschule)
• Upper level of the gymnasium with a vocational bias (Berufliches Gymnasium/ Fachgymnasium)
• Technical school with advanced vocational training (Fachschule)

These schools operate under the Dual System (Duales System) of traditional classroom teaching and on-the-job training.

After full-time vocational schooling, in years 10 to 12 or 13 students receive the Vocational higher-education entrance qualification (Zeugnis der Fachgebundenen Hochschulreife).

Higher Education

Higher education continues in:

• Universities (Universitäten)
• Higher education institutions (Technische Hochschulen/ Technische Universitäten)
• Teacher Training Colleges (Pädagogische Hochschulen)
• Theological Colleges (Theologische Hochschulen)
• Colleges of art (Kunsthochschulen)
• Colleges of music (Musikhochschulen)
• Universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen)
• Professional academies (Berufsakademie) in some federal states

Private Schools

There are private schools in Germany, from primary to secondary levels, including international schools.

• For further information see the Association of German Private Schools (Bundesverband Deutscher Privatschulen) (in German)

International Schools

There are a large number of international schools in Germany. They follow a variety of curricula and some offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. They are all privately run and therefore fee-paying. Some offer primary education only while others can cater for all ages including pre-school and nursery age children. In many instances children are taught by nationals from their country of origin.

• Information on the availability of schools and entrance requirements from the European Council for International Schools (ECIS) or
• The Association of German International Schools (AGIS)

Finding a School & Enrolling

Children attend the primary school of their area of residence. School authorities hold school registration (Schulanmeldung) days for six-year-olds, about six months before the start of the new school year. It is important that parents find the relevant information as non-registration is punishable by a fine. The school can provide parents with the relevant application forms.

To register a child with any preschool or school, the relevant forms need to be taken to the local registry office (Bürgeramt) which is part of the Bezirksamt. The department responsible for the allocation of preschool places and school places is called Abteilung für Jugend und Finanzen.

The following documents will be necessary:

• Birth certificate
• Passport (for non-German children)
• A certificate from the State Health Office (Staatliches Gesundheitsamt) confirming the child's good health
• Other documents if relevant, such as residency permit

The transfer to one of the different lower secondary schools depends on individual states' legislation: decisions may be taken by the parents or the new school, based on recommendations by the pupil's primary school.

The School Year

The official school year runs between the 1 August and 31 July, with start and finishing dates as well as half term and Christmas and Easter holidays staggered depending on the individual states.

Some international schools have different holidays or may observe additional national holidays.

The school day  

The school day can be quite different from other European educational establishments. Students begin classes at 08:00 and remain at school until 13:30 when the school day normally ends. Classes are held in the same room, with teachers moving from room to room. The lessons last on average for 45 minutes and there is a break of five minutes after each lesson.

Afternoon lessons are becoming more widespread throughout Germany mainly for older students. These classes are of a more relaxed style, for example physical education or art, and vary greatly from state to state.

In the past, German children were expected at school on Saturdays, with Wednesday being the second day of rest. This has changed and all school-goers from 6 to 17 now attend school from Monday to Friday.

Special Needs

Due to Germany's decentralised educational system, the federal states deal with pupils with special needs in slightly differing ways. In general, each state has a range of special schools covering a variety of special needs, from mental and social to physical disorders, at primary and secondary levels. Recently, programmes have been introduced to encourage the integration of pupils with special needs into mainstream education.

Further information can be obtained from the local educational authority (Schulamt).

• See also AngloINFO INFOrmation page Special Needs Education in Germany

Alternative Schools - Forest Schools

An increasingly popular alternative to traditional education is offered by forest schools http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/forsten/waldschulen/angebot.shtml which provide an alternative approach to classroom-based learning, focusing on the outdoors. Children learn a greater awareness of the importance of the outdoors for healthy living and its impact on human life. 

• For general information on Berlin-based forest schools: Click here (in German)
• For information on Berlin forest schools for primary and early years education: Click here 
• For information on the senior forest school in Charlottenburg: Click here

Related Information

• PLOTEUS is the official EU website with specific reference to education and learning opportunities
• European Council for International Schools (ECIS)
• Association of German International Schools (AGIS)
• Eurydice – the information network on education in Europe
• Bildungsserver (in German)

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