Children aged 6-12

In Bremen, school attendance is compulsory. A child is usually enrolled in school if they turn six by June 30th of a given year. If your child turns six between July 1st and September 30th of that year, they can still be registered for school within the registration period (grace period child).

In autumn, parents receive a school enrollment notification from the authorities. You then need to register your child at the primary school closest to your home. Registration takes place directly at the school during a specific period (usually after the autumn holidays). In February/March, places are allocated, and families receive a letter from the school confirming their acceptance or rejection. In rare cases, if there are many applicants, places are allocated by lottery.

If your child has a recognized special educational need, you can indicate this when registering them for school. Your child will then be placed in a school that can appropriately meet their needs. Individual assistance (school support) is regulated by law, but demand often exceeds supply.

An informal request for the preferred school can be made during the registration interview.

If your child turns 6 by June 30th, they are required to start school on August 1st. If your child turns 6 in the second half of the year, by December 31st, you can apply for school enrollment. This requires a school medical examination.

All parents receive a consultation at the end of the fourth grade. Following this, a decision is made regarding the transition to secondary school; in Bremen, this means either a Gymnasium (academic high school) or a Oberschule (comprehensive school). The process depends on academic performance, recommendations, and the parents' decision. Attendance at the consultation is mandatory for you as a parent!

Registration for secondary school (from grade 5 onwards) usually takes place in January/February. You will receive the information and forms in good time from your child's primary school.
Registration itself is also handled through the primary school or with their assistance.

The Bremen Holiday Compass is a portal for parents that offers a central digital overview of supervised holiday activities in Bremen. There you'll find various camps, workshops, sports activities, nature and creative programs for school children from around 6 years old – from graffiti and bouldering to building Lego robots: Click here for the Bremen Holiday Compass

If your child is having problems at school, there are a number of professional support services in Bremen that can help – from school-related counseling to social work support. The first point of contact is the Regional Counseling and Support Centers (ReBUZ) and, if necessary, the educational counseling centers.