Schools
All children in Germany must attend school. School regulations vary in Germany‘s 16 states but normally children begin school at the age of 6. Certain conditions permit parents to apply for a place at school earlier or later than 6 years of age. Local school offices provide information on schooling. The new school year begins in Germany after the summer holidays.
Most schools are half-day. That means lessons are given from the morning until early afternoon. During the first two years children often only stay at school for a few hours. There are also some schools that teach in the afternoon. Schools also provide extra coaching should children need special assistance because they are new in Germany. This extra coaching is often called "Förderunterricht", "Nachhilfe" or "Hausaufgaben-Hilfe". Charitable organisations also provide information on respective coaching programmes. Children attend school for at least 9 or 10 years. They can also stay longer and do the final exams known as the "Abitur". Or they can leave school and do an apprenticeship once they are 16 years of age or over.
From the ages of 6 to 10 or 12, children attend primary school ("Grundschule"). Primary school lasts 4 years ("Class 1 to 4"); in some states 6 years. After primary school children are sent to different types of secondary schools: the "Hauptschule", Realschule", "Gesamtschule" or "Gymnasium". The "Gesamtschule" accepts children of all learning abilities. The most suitable school for your child is agreed upon in conjunction with the teachers. It is also possible to change schools.
"Hauptschulen" are secondary schools generally attended by children from class 5 until class 9. The "Realschule" is generally attended by schoolchildren from class 5 until class 10. Most children attending these schools go on to do an apprenticeship, or they visit a technical college that prepares them for vocational professions (for instance the "Handelsschule" or business school). Alternatively, they can transfer to a "Gymnasium", the highest form of secondary school in Germany.
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