Types of school
In Germany all children initially attend primary school. Afterwards they move to another school. There are various types of school at secondary level that lead to different leaving qualifications.
Primary school
Initially all children attend primary school for four years (or six years in the Länder of Berlin and Brandenburg). As a rule, they go to primary school near their home. In some Federal Länder parents can choose their child’s primary school themselves.
In the final year of primary school a decision is made concerning the school the child will attend next. The primary school teachers give a recommendation ("Übergangsempfehlung" – transfer recommendation) and also meet with parents to provide advice. In most Federal Länder parents can decide which school their child will attend after primary school. Crucial factors involved in the recommendation are the child’s grades in primary school and the teachers’ assessment of the child.
Secondary schools (secondary level I and II)
There are the following secondary schools in Germany:
- Hauptschule (up to year 9 or 10)
- Realschule (up to year 10)
- schools with several curricula (at which Hauptschule or Realschule leaving qualifications can be gained)
- Gymnasium (up to year 12 or 13)
- Gesamtschule (with or without the final years of gymnasial pre-university study. All school-leaving qualifications can be taken here)
In principle, it is possible to change from one type of school to another during the school career, if grades are good enough.
In several Federal Länder there are other types of school in which Hauptschule and Realschule curricula are amalgamated:
- Mittelschule (Saxony, Bavaria)
- Sekundarschule (Saxony-Anhalt, Bremen, Berlin)
- Regelschule (Thuringia)
- Oberschule (Brandenburg, Lower Saxony)
- Erweiterte Realschule (Saarland)
- Realschule plus and combined or amalgamated Hauptschule and Realschule (Rhineland-Palatinate)
- Integrated Hauptschule and Realschule and also Stadtteilschule (Hamburg)
- Regionalschule (Rhineland-Palatinate, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein)
- Werkrealschule (Baden-Württemberg)
Young people can take their Hauptschule school-leaving qualification as well as the Realschule leaving qualification at these schools.
After taking the leaving qualification for Hauptschule or Realschule, young people can attend a school at secondary level II and obtain their general school-leaving certificate (Abitur) or technical school-leaving certificate (Fachabitur). They can then study at a university or institution of higher education. In addition, after taking their leaving qualifications at a Hauptschule or Realschule, young people can begin a vocational training course and attend a vocational school. There are more areas of work available to people with a leaving qualification from a Realschule than are available to those with a qualification from a Hauptschule. In some Federal Länder, the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (general school-leaving qualification) can be taken after the Realschule leaving qualification at vocational schools.
