Education and Schools in Germany

The national government plays a minor role in providing education in Germany, and the responsibility for schools mainly lies with individual states. Differences in the curriculum, teaching style and facilities can therefore vary not only between schools but also between different areas in Germany.

The German education system accommodates and caters for students with various abilities. Beyond the traditional academic subjects of maths, science, geography, history and languages, the German system also provides opportunities for students to study vocational disciplines.

Public schools in Germany

The standard of education and schools in Germany are generally good. Public school is only really an option if you plan on relocating to Germany for the long term or if you have children who are young enough to pick up a new language without it negatively impacting their education.

Most expats send their children to a private bilingual school in Germany or an international school, which allows them to continue studying their home country’s curriculum.

In Germany, most children only attend school in the morning. As there are usually no lunch facilities at public schools in Germany, most return home after their lessons in the morning and return in the afternoon for extracurricular activities. The amount of extracurricular activities available at schools in Germany varies considerably and is determined by each individual school.

Nursery and kindergarten

In Germany, sending children between the ages of 3 and 6 to nursery school or kindergarten is optional. School attendance becomes compulsory from 6 to 15.

Primary education

The education system varies throughout Germany, owing to the fact that each state is in charge of its education policy. Most children attend primary school, or Grundschule, from 6 to 12.

Secondary education

There are five types of schools that make up the secondary education system in Germany:

• Gymnasium: Similar to a grammar school, this secondary school is designed to prepare students for tertiary education and finishes with final examinations after Grade 12 or 13.
• Realschule: This type of school offers a broader education for intermediate students. Realschule offers a range of vocational subjects in addition to the traditional academic courses. There is a final assessment after Grade 10.
• Hauptschule: This type of school offers students a vocational education, and the final examination takes place after Grade 9 or 10.
• Gesamtschule: This combines academic courses with vocational ones and allows the student to transfer to either Hauptschule or Realschule in Grade 10.
• Sonderschulen: prepares students for Hauptschule or Realschule. Few students in Germany attend this type of school.

Tertiary education

To apply to a university in Germany, students are generally expected to have passed the Abitur examination following their Gymnasium education. Students who have attended Realschule and passed the Master Craftsman’s Diploma, or Meisterbrief, can apply for specific university courses.

For students who do not choose to attend university in Germany, there’s a special apprenticeship system called Duale Ausbildung. This system allows pupils who have studied vocational courses at secondary school to do in-service training at a company.

Useful links

• Federal Ministry of Education and Research

International schools in Germany

Most expats living in Germany send their children to an international school, as these institutions eliminate concerns surrounding language barriers.

German cities such as Berlin and Munich have many international schools that cater to students of various nationalities. International schools largely offer a high standard of learning, smaller class sizes and a variety of extracurricular activities.

The downside to sending a child to an international school in Germany is the hefty price tag. Some employers may offer an education allowance to help manage this cost, so we recommend speaking to your employer to find out what options are available.

Read more

• International Schools in Berlin
• International Schools in Munich
• International Schools in Frankfurt

Bilingual schools in Germany

An alternative to expensive international schools is bilingual schools. These are effectively public schools and therefore have no fees attached. Bilingual schools are a good compromise, as they allow expat children to mix with both locals and expats.

Bilingual schools in Germany usually offer two curricula: one based on a child’s mother tongue and another in German. These schools are highly popular in Germany, so spaces are often filled quickly. If you’re considering this option, you should start looking for school choices before arriving in Germany.

Special-needs education in Germany

According to the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), children in Germany, regardless of disability, have the right to early childhood education and primary, secondary, and tertiary schooling. Children with disabilities are supported as far as possible in mainstream schools.

Typically, the school will assess and determine the child’s support needs and develop an individual support plan in partnership with multidisciplinary professionals and parents. Children living with severe disabilities can also be sent to special-needs schools if their support needs are too great to be managed in a mainstream school.

Increasingly, there have been recommendations for inclusive educational practices in general education and vocational schools. The goal is to enable children to be educated together regardless of ability and to enhance the standards of special education teaching, advisory and support services.

Ultimately, the government tries to ensure that those with special needs can comfortably attend their nearest school and have access to the same standard of education as their peers. The aim is for students living with disabilities to learn and play in a safe environment that enables them to make good academic and social progress.

Useful links

• Intakt

Tutors in Germany

Education is highly valued in Germany, and tutors are widely used to improve and assist children’s schooling. Tutors might help in specific subjects such as maths or science.

Expat parents often hire tutors 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 building some confidence. Top private tuition companies include Lernwerk and LearnPick.

Useful links

• Lernwerk
• LearnPick