School Information

The German school system is quite unique and stands apart from the South African model in several key ways. With its early career streaming, a strong emphasis on vocational training, and a federal structure where each state sets its own education policies, navigating the system can feel like stepping into a whole new world.

SA vs German School System

The German School system is unique and distinguishes itself from the South African models in several ways

Category	South Africa	Germany
School Term	Starts in January	Starts in September
School Uniform	Compulsory	Public schools do not require school uniforms
Home Schooling	Allowed	Not allowed, school attendance is compulsory
School Fees	Fees payable depending on income and school	Public schools are free of charge. Private schools charge fees
Primary School	Grade 1 to Grade 7 Compulsory from age 6	Grade 1 to Grade 4 Compulsory from age 6
Secondary School	Grade 8 to Grade 12. Compulsory up to Grade 10	From Grade 5. See more info in the Secondary School section. Compulsory until the age of 15 for a Gymnasium, else 16 years

Schulpflicht

In Germany, Schulpflicht (compulsory schooling) requires children to attend school, ensuring they receive a structured education.
In Germany, there is no unified national school law, and the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) does not explicitly regulate Schulpflicht (compulsory schooling). Instead, each Bundesland (federal state) determines its own rules regarding the duration and starting age of compulsory education. Generally, children must start school at the age of six, but the exact cutoff date varies, meaning some children may begin between the ages of five and seven.
Compulsory schooling is typically divided into two phases: full-time compulsory education and part-time (vocational) education. The full-time phase includes Grundschule (primary school) and secondary education (Hauptschule, Realschule, Gesamtschule, or Gymnasium) and lasts between nine and ten years, depending on the state. After this period, students who do not continue in school but start vocational training are required to attend a Berufsschule (vocational school). This part-time schooling obligation usually lasts three years, aligning with the duration of an apprenticeship. As a result, in most federal states, compulsory education extends beyond a student’s 18th birthday, lasting until the end of the school year or the completion of vocational training.
Homeschooling is not permitted in Germany, as education laws mandate attendance at an officially recognized school.

The legal foundation for Schulpflicht is found in Article 7 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) and detailed further in each state’s Schulgesetz (School Law).
Parents who fail to comply may face fines or legal consequences.
For specific regulations, refer to the Schulgesetze of the respective Bundesland or the German Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK):

Types of schools

Germany offers a variety of schooling options, though the foundation of the system is its strong public school network. The German public education system is renowned for its well-structured, inclusive approach, ensuring that children from all backgrounds have access to free, high-quality education.

Beyond public schools, families can also explore a range of alternative education models and independent institutions:

Montessori schools — following a child-centered approach that encourages independence and hands-on learning.
Waldorf schools — based on Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophical principles. These are state-approved or state-recognised independent schools with a holistic educational philosophy.
Jenaplan schools — emphasizing community, creativity, and cooperation over rigid structures.
The Catholic Church also runs a large network of faith-based schools across the country.
International schools — found in most major cities, offering bilingual or foreign-language curricula for globally minded families.

Finding a school

Your local Bürgeramt (citizens’ office) can provide up-to-date information about schools in your area, including enrollment procedures and regional education options.

If you’re looking for international schools, the following directories are a good place to start:

Germany's education system

Article 7 of the Grundgesetz (Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany) states the following:

The entire school system shall be under the supervision of the state.
Parents and guardians shall have the right to decide whether children shall receive religious instruction.
Religious instruction shall form part of the regular curriculum in state schools, with the exception of non-denominational schools. Without prejudice to the state’s right of supervision, religious instruction shall be given in accordance with the tenets of the religious community concerned. Teachers may not be obliged against their will to give religious instruction.
The right to establish private schools shall be guaranteed. Private schools that serve as alternatives to state schools shall require the approval of the state and shall be subject to the laws of the Länder. Such approval shall be given when private schools are not inferior to the state schools in terms of their educational aims, their facilities or the professional training of their teaching staff and when segregation of pupils according to the means of their parents will not be encouraged thereby. Approval shall be withheld if the economic and legal position of the teaching staff is not adequately assured.
A private elementary school shall be approved only if the education authority finds that it serves a special educational interest or if, on the application of parents or guardians, it is to be established as a denominational or interdenominational school or as a school based on a particular philosophy and no state elementary school of that type exists in the municipality.
Preparatory schools shall remain abolished.

Education is primarily the responsibility of the individual Federal States (Bundesländer). Each state has its own Ministry of Education which are responsible for the education policies and legislation. This includes the curriculum and teacher qualification requirements.

The School Stages

The German education system has 5 Stages.

English	German	Information
Preschool	Kinderkrippen, Kindergarten	This is optional. The Landesjugendämper (Youth Welfare office) monitors children who are attending preschool. Children are monitored but achievements are not assessed
Primary School	Grundschule From 6 years of age Grades 1 to 4	This is an obligatory stage. For most States the following applies: “When the school year begins, all children who have turned six by June 30 of the current calendar year are obliged to attend primary school. The same applies to children who have turned six by June 30 of the following calendar year and who have been registered by their legal guardians in elementary school.” Children automatically advance to the 2nd grade Children are graded from the 2nd grade. A school report is called a Zeugnis The grading system is from 1 (very good) to 6 (very poor) Pupils do not receive any certificates after finishing this Stage
Secondary School	Weiterführende Schulen Sekundarstufe 1 (lower level) or Sekundarstufe II (upper level)	This starts after the Primary stage and it comprises of a lower level (Sekundarstufe I) and upper level (Sekundarstufe II) Sekundarstufe I are for pupils between the ages of 10 and 16 and includes grades 5 – 7 to 9 – 10 The subject matter is very general and is meant to prepare pupils for Sekundarstufe II Sekundarstufe II are for pupils between the ages of 15 -16 or 18, who wants to qualify for university and already finished Sekundarstufe I
Tertiary	Hochschulausbildung, Teriärbildung	Universities, Technical univcersities, Educational colleges (Pädagogische Hochschulen) Universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) Dual Studies (Berufsakademi) and Fachschulen
Further Education or continuing vocational training		Masters, Ph.D.

The Secondary School Stage

In Germany, children are placed into different educational paths at a relatively early age, meaning important academic decisions come sooner than many parents might expect. One of the most significant milestones is choosing the right secondary school. This choice can shape not only a student’s academic and career prospects but also their personal and social growth.

Germany offers several types of secondary schools, each with its own focus, pace, and strengths. It’s worth taking the time to understand the curriculum, graduation requirements, and admission criteria for each type before making a decision. The right fit depends on your child’s academic ability, learning style, and future goals.

A hallmark of the German system is its strong emphasis on vocational education and training (Berufsausbildung). This ensures that students who thrive through practical, hands-on learning have structured pathways into skilled professions — just as respected as academic ones.

For South Africans, understanding how local qualifications compare can be helpful. A South African Grade 12 may be considered equivalent to a German Abitur, depending on your subjects, marks, and sometimes the Bundesland (federal state). At minimum, it generally aligns with a Realschulabschluss or mittlere Reife. To check whether your South African qualification qualifies you for university studies in Germany, you can verify your details on the official Anabin website.

English	German	Information
Preschool	Kinderkrippe, Kindergarten	Attendance is optional. Preschools and kindergartens are supervised by the Landesjugendamt (Youth Welfare Office). Children are observed and supported in their development, but no formal academic assessments are made at this stage.
Primary School	Grundschule	Begins at age 6 and covers Grades 1–4. Attendance is compulsory. In most federal states, children who turn six by June 30 of the current year must start school that September. Pupils automatically advance to Grade 2. Grading starts in Grade 2, with reports called Zeugnis. The grading scale runs from 1 (very good) to 6 (very poor). No certificate is issued at the end of primary school.
Secondary School	Weiterführende Schulen (Sekundarstufe I & II)	Follows primary school and is divided into two levels: Sekundarstufe I: Ages 10–16, usually Grades 5–9 or 5–10. Provides general education and prepares students for higher-level studies or vocational paths. Sekundarstufe II: Ages 15–18. For students aiming for university entrance (Abitur) or advanced vocational training. Builds on the foundation of Sekundarstufe I.
Tertiary Education	Hochschulausbildung / Tertiärbildung	Includes Universities, Technical Universities (Technische Universitäten), Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen), Educational Colleges (Pädagogische Hochschulen), and Dual Studies programs (Berufsakademie). These institutions offer degrees such as Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD.
Further Education	Weiterbildung / Berufliche Fortbildung	Refers to ongoing professional or vocational training. These programs support lifelong learning and career development, and may include certification courses, trade schools, or master craftsman training (Meisterschule).

Grades

Germany uses a numerical grading system, with 1 being the best and 6 the worst. This scale is applied across most school levels, from primary to secondary education

01 Very Good

02 good

03 Fsatisfactory

04 Adequate

05 poor

04 very poor

Fun Facts

On a child’s first day of school, they take along “Schultüte”, which is a decorated paper cone filled with sweets and small presents
Depending on the Federal State, most children start school in August/September of the year that they turn 6 years old
For young school children, having a trendy backpack is more important than the clothes they wear
Every student is obliged to attend classes and other school events. You therefore cannot take your child out of school before the term ends. They must attend school for the whole term, with only certain exemptions like ill health, participation in sports competitions, or an important personal reason like the marriage of siblings, death in the family or serious illness in the family. Under certain circumstances, you can apply for special leave (Beurlaubung), for example, to return to your country of origin for a special event
School hours start between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. and can end between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m
School marks are called “die Noten”
A School hour is usually 45 minutes long
Sports are played at private facilities and schools do not have sports fields
At the end of an Abitur, most schools have Abiball which is like a Matric farewell

Support for Parents

Find inspiration in shared stories:

Huffpost Personal – I Thought Moving My Kids To Germany Would Be Good For Us. I Just Didn’t Expect It To Feel Like This

On our website, we have a list of South African community spaces and information about our WhatsApp Community. There are various parenting groups in our WhatsApp Community

Bullying at school

Mobbing in Schools: Recognize, Act, and Support Your Child Every child deserves to feel safe at school. Learn how to identify the signs of bullying, take effective action, and access resources to protect your child and restore their confidence. Disclaimer:The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, medical, or professional advice. It is not intended to replace consultation with qualified professionals. For specific concerns or cases,

South African Communities

Feeling homesick? Connect with fellow South Africans living in Germany through communities that offer friendship, support, and a taste of home. Whether you’re looking to share experiences, ask questions, or simply find a familiar accent, these groups are here to help you feel closer to home. Discover the best spaces to stay connected and feel supported on your journey in Germany. Church Groups American Protestant Church in Bonn – from August they will have an

Kitas

Kita is a German abbreviation for “Kindertagesstätte,” which translates to “daycare centre” in English. In Germany, Kita is a term used to refer to preschool or early childhood education facilities that offer care and education for children aged 0-6 years old. These facilities are usually run by the government, religious or private organizations and follow a structured curriculum aimed at promoting children’s learning and development.It is not mandatory to send your child to a Kita.

Information on the Web

A really good article from Simple Germany
Make-it-in-germany
www.deutschland.de
How to Germany (good definitions)
School Terms
Video from DW with relevant information
pdf file in English with an excellent overview of the school system in Bavaria. This gives you a good idea about the school system and most states work on the same principles.

Travel during a school Term

Travel during a School Term The school rules in Germany are very strict and every student is obliged to attend classes and other school events. You therefore cannot take your child out of school before the term ends. They must attend school for the whole term, with only certain exemptions like ill-health, participation in sports competitions, or an important personal reason like the marriage of siblings, death in the family or serious illness in the

Recognition of studies

Recognition of studies Planning to study further, work in a regulated profession, or have your vocational training acknowledged in Germany?You may need your Matric (Grade 12), South African degree, or other qualifications officially recognised, depending on your goals. To check whether your profession is regulated in the EU, explore the official EU database of regulated professions. Recognition of school leaving certificates Germany distinguishes between: School‑leaving certificates, such as Matric (after grade 10 or 12), are intended

The German Vocational Training System

An Ausbildung is a form of vocational training or apprenticeship where a student attends school and works simultaneously. The student gains both theoretical and practical knowledge at the same time.The training usually starts in September every year, but can start at other times as well. Types of Vocational training Dual vocational training (“Duale Berufsausbildung”) This is taught at a Berufsschule. The student works and studies, and thereby obtaining practical experience. The Student earns a salary.Duration:

Study in Germany

Studying in Germany Germany’s higher education landscape is renowned for its academic excellence and affordability. Whether you’re pursuing a degree at a Universität, a Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences), or through a dual study program, you’ll find a learning culture built on precision, independence, and real-world application. Before applying, it’s essential to understand the admission and recognition process. Many international students apply through uni-assist, a centralized service that evaluates foreign qualifications and forwards approved applications