The federal states are responsible for education policy in Germany. They have the so-called cultural sovereignty, so that the state governments can largely independently decide how they organize their education systems. Therefore, the terms for the types of schools in general education are very different. Further information is also available on the website of the Conference of Ministers of Education: https://www.kmk.org/themen/allgemeinbildende-schulen/bildungsweun-und-abschluesse.html
State of Bremen
In the federal state of Bremen, all schools are developing into inclusive schools, meaning that children with disabilities (special educational needs) and children without disabilities are being schooled together. Bremen defines inclusion in the field of education as the support of all pupils - from the restriction in the cognitive area to giftedness, regardless of the world view, religion or social and cultural origin.
Primary school
The school starts with elementary school. It lasts four years, from grade 1 to grade 4.
The elementary school provides an educational foundation for later learning and promotes the personal development of children. Elementary knowledge and basic social skills are taught in the first four years. Reading, writing and arithmetic must be learned. Step by step, elementary school children are introduced to systematic learning. Additional subjects in the artistic and sports field should also promote interests and talents.
All children, who will be six years old by the 30th of June have to be registered at school.
Registration: All parents register their children for elementary school in January. For this you will receive a letter before with all the important information and information on the relevant elementary school.
There are three types of elementary school:
Reliable primary school
The reliable elementary school last from 8 to 13 o'clock.
Open all-day elementary school
Here some children take part in additional offers in the afternoon and get a warm lunch. When registering for school, parents choose whether their child stays until 3 pm or 4 pm (also by 2 pm on Friday).
Bound full-time elementary school
Schooldays for all children are daily from 8am to 3pm or at 3 days to 4pm and 2 days to 2pm. In addition, there is a voluntary care until 4 pm. All children participate in the lunch.
All-day schools in Bremen: https://www.bildung.bremen.de/ganztagsschulen-3862
All-day school children can also be enrolled for early care from 7:00 am to 8:00 am or late care from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm as well as holiday care. These services have to be paid.
In addition to state primary schools, there are also private elementary schools run by church carriers (https://www.bildung.bremen.de/privatschulen-3829)
Secondary school
Secondary education follows elementary school and goes from grade 5 to grade 9 or 10.
In Bremen there are two types of secondary schools.
High school (Oberschule)
The “Oberschule” addresses all students in their different abilities, learning types and preferences with their teaching offer. In grades 5 and 6, the subject lessons take place in classes, but the pupils receive as individualized learning offers as possible. The aim is to give individually promote and challenge each individual. If a pupil has a backlog the school offers special remedial lessons. But high-performing (gifted) students as well receive special support.
From the 7th grade onwards, the students will be taught according to their individual abilities at a basic or extended level of requirements ("subject-specific differentiation").
At Oberschule, the following qualifications may be obtained in lower secondary education: Basic Vocational Graduation in Grade 9 or 10, Advanced Vocational Graduation in Grade 10, Middle School Graduation in Grade 10 and High School Graduation in grade 12 or 13.
Oberschulen in Bremen are predominantly all-day schools r grades 5 to 7. Lunch is offered.
High school (Gymnasium)
The Gymnasium offers students with very good performances an increased learning speed at a uniform level of performance and lead to the Abitur after 12 years. In Gymnasium all educational qualifications can be acquired. The Gymnasium is particularly suitable for students who can acquire the required learning content in a shorter time. The time load is greater here, the timetable covers up to 35 hours a week. Two Gymnasiums are all-day schools. In Gymnasium lunch is offered as well.
Werkschule
The Werkschule is intended for students who have difficulties in theoretical learning and who need more time to learn, but who like to work practically and gain the knowledge they need through practical job-related work. In Werkschule, 8th grade students can apply. At the end of grade 11, the Advanced Vocational Graduation can be acquired.
Special schools for primary and lower secondary level
For children with a disability in the area of hearing, vision or physical motor development there are three special schools in Bremen:
Schule an der Marcusallee: School for the hard of hearing, the deaf, CI bearers and students with hearing impairments from grade 1 to grade 10; http://227.joomla.schule.bremen.de/index.php/ueber-uns/kurzbeschreibung
Georg Droste School: School for Seeing and Visual Perception from Grade 1 to Grade 10;
https://225.schule.bremen.de/startseite-1459
Paul Goldschmidt School: School for Physical and Motor Development for Primary, Lower Secondary and higher Secondary Education; https://226.sixcms.schule.bremen.de/schule-1469