Responsibility for primary and secondary education in Germany rests with the individual federal states (Bundesländer), so the exact structure and the curriculum varies from state to state (as do the dates of school holidays). Certain basic characteristics, however, hold true for the whole of the German education system.
The German primary and secondary education system explained
Compulsory education begins in Germany at age six. Prior to this, parents are entitled to childcare, offered by a range of providers like kindergartens, childminders and daycare. After early childhood education, children attend primary school (Grundschule) until age 10 (12 in some federal states).
The secondary education system (grades 5 to 13) in Germany is characterised by division, as students are streamed into separate schools offering either academic or vocational qualifications. Find out about the multiple options and pathways open to children in the German school system.
Types of school in Germany
Broadly speaking, there are two types of schools in Germany:
- Public schools
- Private schools
Public schools (öffentliche Schulen)
The majority of pupils in Germany (around 90%) attend state-funded public schools. Education policy in Germany is controlled by individual federal states, which means that there can be a great degree of regional variation in terms of curriculum and school types. State education authorities work together, however, to ensure that a common and comparable standard of education is achieved throughout Germany.
Private & alternative schools (Ersatzschulen)
The right to establish private schools as alternatives to public schools is enshrined in the German constitution (Grundgesetz). All private schools that offer German qualifications, however, must receive approval from regional state authorities, who assess whether the school measures up to public-sector schools in terms of their educational aims, facilities and staff.
Furthermore, Ersatzschulen cannot be deemed to be encouraging the segregation of pupils according to their socioeconomic backgrounds. For this reason, private schools in Germany receive fairly generous state subsidies and tend to charge much lower fees than in other countries in western Europe.
There are several different types of private and alternative schools in Germany, including:
- Religious schools: Founded on a specific faith such as Protestantism, Catholicism or Judaism. Attending a religious school doesn’t necessarily mean you need to practice that religion, but you will be expected to observe and respect their customs.
- Freie Waldorfschulen (Rudolf Steiner schools): Following the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, Freie Waldorfschulen have a long history in Germany, with the first being opened in Stuttgart in 1919. Steiner schools have a holistic approach to education that emphasises creativity and imagination to develop pupils’ intellectual, artistic and practical skills.
- Montessori schools: The Montessori educational approach, based on the work of Italian educator Maria Montessori, relies on the concept that children are inherently curious and resourceful. By placing them in a supportive learning environment, the method encourages the development of children’s natural abilities through discovery and play.
- Free alternative schools (Freie Alternativschulen): Partially based on concepts like the Montessori approach, free alternative schools encourage individual responsibility, varied lesson formats and mixed-age classes.
- Jenaplan schools: Jenaplan schools are founded on the concepts of Peter Petersen and promote cooperation and communal living, in particular, shared responsibilities for children, teachers and parents. The Jenaplan emphasises the uniqueness of each human being and encourages learning via teaching, celebration, discussion and play.
International schools (internationale Schulen)
International schools are designed specifically so that the children of expats, who often spend long portions of their childhood abroad, can receive a consistent and coherent education. International schools offer instruction at least partially in English (many are bilingual English - German) and internationally-recognised certifications such as IGCSE and IB diplomas. For those wanting to complete higher education in Germany, there are many schools that also offer the Abitur qualification.
As they offer international qualifications, international schools sometimes fall outside of laws controlling private schools. This means they might not receive funding from the state, can charge uncapped tuition fees, and are given more freedom in terms of their curriculums. Browse through our selection of the top international schools in Germany for expats.
Schools fees & educational costs in Germany
Education, both public and private, is funded by the German government and is therefore mostly free. Private schools have their fees capped by their local education authorities, but some schools may not be covered by these rulings and charge higher fees. More information can be found on our German school fees page.
German school holidays
To avoid chaos on the roads, school holidays in Germany work on a staggered rota system, according to federal state. Some national holidays are observed country-wide, while others only take place in individual states.
Homeschooling in Germany
Homeschooling is illegal in Germany, on the basis that a child’s right to be well-educated and socialised outweighs the parent’s desire to keep them at home. This ruling applies to non-German and German citizens alike and can be enforced with fines and prison sentences.