Education and Schools in Berlin

In Berlin, just like the rest of Germany, education is highly valued. Teachers earn good salaries, and university staff are especially respected. The city places a strong focus on higher education, with many universities, colleges, polytechnics, and over 200 research institutes.

Germany’s education system is different from many other countries because individual states (länder) have a lot of control. The federal government mainly oversees universities and higher education. If you’re an expat or even a German moving to Berlin from another state, you'll need to learn how the system works here.

Public schools in Berlin

If you have children young enough to pick up the local language quickly, or you see yourselves relocating to Berlin long term, you will certainly want to consider standard German public schools. These institutions do not charge tuition, but there may be registration or minimal extras that need to be financed.

In Berlin, students (and their parents) are free to choose which school they attend, as there are no catchment areas. We recommend conducting extensive research to find institutions that align with your child's needs and priorities. The education system in Berlin is divided into several stages: 

• Children attend kindergarten at the age of three
• Start grundschule (primary school) at age six. From this age, students learn a standard set curriculum, which lasts six grades in Berlin. 
• Secondary School begins at 12 until 18.

After primary school, students can attend one of three types of secondary schools: hauptschule, realschule or gymnasium. German education is not divided according to age from this point forward, but rather according to what direction a student decides to take their education.

A child's academic ability usually determines which school they attend, but the final decision often rests with their parents. Bear in mind, though, regardless of which school a child attends, all students must complete at least nine years of education. Also, as schooling is typically conducted during the morning, students frequently receive a lot of homework and cannot be involved in too many extracurricular activities.

Hauptschule, while offering the same subjects as realschule and gymnasium, teaches children at a slower pace and includes vocational courses. During grade 10, students study at a vocational training school, and then attend berufsschule, where they receive further education and apprenticeship training until grade 12.

Realschule, on the other hand, is attended up until and including grade 10, after which students go straight to Berufsschule. Depending on their academic progress, Realschule students can attend a gymnasium upon graduation.

Gymnasium is generally accepted as the type of school for top students. Subjects covered include mathematics, natural science, and classic and modern language studies. The grades range from 5 to 13, and successful scholars receive a degree called an Abitur, which offers university and college preparatory classes or combined academic and vocational training.

Useful links

• Berlin Senate Administration for Education, Youth and Family – School Directory

International schools in Berlin

Berlin has a few private international schools and public bilingual schools. These are often the best options for expats as they eliminate language barrier concerns.

Private international schools catering to various nationalities can be found in the city. You can choose the school that offers your preferred language of instruction and your home country's curriculum. 

International schools tend to uphold high learning standards, boast smaller class sizes, have first-rate facilities, and largely offer more extracurricular activities than bilingual schools or German public schools. Students find their comfort zone easily in these spaces, but they tend to slow local integration and somewhat hinder the multicultural experience. Depending on age and institution, these schools also come with a hefty price tag.

Bilingual schools in Berlin

As an alternative, public bilingual schools come with no fees attached and act as a good middle ground, allowing for integration and cultivating a comfort zone for kids. The Nelson Mandela School and the JFK School are two examples that are well respected by the expat community.

In these state-sponsored schools, there are usually two streams of curricula based on a child's mother tongue, the difference being the language of teaching.

Spaces fill up quickly at popular bilingual schools in Berlin, so we recommend making admission arrangements as far in advance as possible if you're planning a move to the city.

In both school types, preference may be given to students based on nationality; this does not apply at all institutions, though, and does not guarantee entrance. Admission and enrolment procedures vary from school to school.

Read more

• International Schools in Berlin
• Berlin Senate Administration for Education, Youth and Family – Bilingual Education

Special-needs education in Berlin

Children in Germany, regardless of disability, have the right, according to the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), to early childhood education, primary, secondary and tertiary schooling. Children with disabilities are supported as far as possible in mainstream schools, and there have been recommendations for increasingly inclusive educational practice in general education and vocational schools.

The goal is to enable children to learn together regardless of ability and to guarantee and develop the standards achieved in special-education teaching, advising and support services. 

Ultimately, the government is working to ensure that students with special educational needs can comfortably attend their nearest school and receive the same standard of education as their peers. It's also essential that they learn and play in a safe environment and make good academic and social progress.

Useful links

• Inclusive Special Schools in Berlin

Tutors in Berlin

Education and schools in Berlin play a key role in local society, and tutors are widely used to improve and assist children's schooling. Tutors might assist in specific subjects such as maths or science. 

You'll also find that expat parents often hire a tutor to improve their child's German language proficiency. Tutors are also used to prepare for important exams or university entrance exams.

You might also find that your child may benefit from having a guiding hand in navigating a new school system, or just building some confidence.

Useful links

• LearnPick
• Lernwerk