The school system in Munich

Primary school is the first general school for all children in school-age spanning the class levels 1 – 4.

Start of School

Children start visiting a primary school at the age of 6. Since 2010 the rules in Bavaria require that all children who turn six years old before 30th September are required to attend school. This means that children turning 6 in October, November, and December are not enrolled in school.
A child is considered ready for school when it is physically, mentally and spiritually and socially developed insofar that it can participate successfully in class. Parents who believe their child is ready for school but was born in October, November or December, do have the opportunity to talk to the school’s headmaster and present their child. Depending on the individual development of the child it can be accepted early or be deferred. The final decision on acceptance into the school is made by the school management, relying on the statements of the kindergarten and the review of school readiness by an experienced teacher. If in doubt, school doctors, psychologists, guidance counselors and other advisory services can be involved. Very often the parents’ wish is followed.

Choice of School

Parents do neither have the right to choose the school freely unless they decide for a private school. The child is assigned based on its resident address. Sometimes, there are two schools of which the parents can choose. There is but one evaluation of schools available which relies on the German orthography in grade two. The 10% of schools with the best results throughout Bavaria are published by the Bavarian State on their website.

2012:·

Bayernplatz
Mariahilfplatz
Ernst-Reuter-Straße
Gänselieselstraße
Guardinistraße
Ostpreußenstraße
Stielerstraße
Isar-Volksschule München

2011:

Bäckerstraße
Bayernplatz
Dachauer Straße
Droste-Hülshoff-Straße
Gänselieselstraße
Haimhauser Straße
Haldenbergerstraße
Hochstraße
Ichostraße
Lehrer-Götz-Weg
Gilmstraße
Mariahilfplatz
Ostpreußenstraße
St.-Anna-Straße
Türkenstraße
Dietzfelbingerplatz

One can see that the schools are ever changing and we recommend not to be influenced too much. When looking at these results it shall not be forgotten, that flawless orthography is not the only criteria for a good school. Much more important is, that your child enjoys learning. Thus, when talking to the headmaster during your admission meeting, listen to your gut feeling.

Performance Assessment

Performance assessments in elementary school are firstly the proof of an achieved level of competence of the children but are also the basis for advising the parents about the individual learning path of the child. Oral and practical performance measurement is continuously undertaken by the teachers at appropriate intervals according to the nature of the subject. Feedback can be sought any time in case of individual demand, but predominantly it is given twice a year.

In grade 1 and in the first half of year 2 the results are provided with a verbal remark, which reflects the level of performance achieved throughout the semester. Marks (1 = very good, 6 = very bad) will only be issued towards the end of the second school year. All results will mention an evaluation of social behavior, as well as the learning and working behavior.

At the end of primary school (fourth grade), pupils enter the secondary school. On the basis of the school achievements in the fourth grade the school issues the results, the so-called „Übertrittszeugnis“, a school certificate documenting the average school grade of the main subjects.

School types

Bavaria distinguishes 3 basic school types:

„Mittelschule“:
- general, vocationally oriented secondary school for non-university bound pupils
- classes 5 – 9
- main focus on vocational training
- Graduation: Certificate of Secondary Education / „Hauptschulabschluss“
„Realschule“:
- professionally oriented secondary school
- classes 5 – 10
- main focus on vocational training or Technical college / „Fachoberschule“
- Diploma: General Certificate of Secondary Education / „Mittlere Reife“
„Gymnasium“:
- university-preparatory secondary school
- classes 5 - 12
- main focus on academic studies (or ambitious vocational training)
- Diploma: General university-entrance diploma / „Abitur“

More information in English language is available on the website of the Bavarian Ministry for Education and Culture, Science and Art.

Decision about secondary school

Regular procedure

Your child’s teacher(s) will recommend which school type would be appropriate for your child in its current stage of life. Primarily, this is based on your child’s average results of the 4th grade for the subjects German, mathematics and home and social studies. The most popular school type is the Gymnasium which leads to Abitur, which is the door-opener for basically any university study.

To be admitted to a Gymnasium your child needs to achiever minimum mark 2,33 as average.
To be admitted to Realschule your child needs to achieve minimum mark 2,66 as average.

Grade 4 is thus the important year in primary school. In case the average mentioned above is not achieved, an additional indicator can be the successful completing of a trial lesson at the Gymnasium.

Trial Lessons for Gymnasium

A successfully completing of a trial lesson at the desired Gymnasium or Realschule can also establish whether the Gymnasium is the appropriate choice for your child. The trial lessons take 3 school days oral and written tests will be conducted in the subjects German and mathematics. Your child will have passed the trial lesson in case it achieved minimum mark 3 in one of the subjects and minimum mark 4 in the other. It is the parents’ decision in case the child reached minimum mark 4 in both subjects.

Transition between types of school after grade 5 & 6

A child is permitted to switch to another type of school if his/her academic achievement in German and mathematics develops accordingly.

Prerequisite for a transition from Mittelschule to Realschule is an average mark of 2.5. For a transition from Mittelschule to Gymnasium, the minimum average mark must be 2,0.
Your child must achieve minimum average 2,5 if it wants to transition from Realschule to Gymnasium

Another transition is possible after grade 6. The following marks in German an mathematics need to be achieved:

From Mittelschule to Realschule – 2.0, from Mittelschule to gymnasium - only based on an assessment
From Realschule to Gymnasium – 2,0

In case the average mark is not achieved an individual assessment is possible. More (German only).

A transition is, however, rather challenging. For many pupils who want to reach the next diploma level, it is easier the go on with further education after the end of that school type and maybe also after a vocational training. Then, for example, the Technical college / „Fachoberschule“ and the upper vocational school / „Berufsoberschule“ offer the chance - under specific conditions - to gain the entrance qualification for higher technical education, i.e., university entrance in specialized subjects or even the general qualification for university entrance.

In addition, there are further schooling options:

Schools with special pedagogical education approach, e.g., Waldorf, Montessori
Private schools & International schools
Bilingual Schools, with focus on English (and Italian)

Some of these institutions are state-approved, other state-allowed. This may have an influence on the acknowledgment and acceptance of the school leaving certificate.

Schools with special pedagogical education approach

Waldorfschulen

Montessori Schulen

Private & International Schools

Bilingual schools

Some „Realschulen“ and „Gymnasien“ offer bilingual lessons as an additional proposition for interested pupils. Starting with grade 6 the children study a subsidiary subject in German and a foreign language.

Pupils coming from abroad get support by the school to learn German. There is a wide variety of assistance depending on the possibilities of the particular school, on the children´s needs and on the number of pupils who need the support. Some schools offer individual private lessons; other schools have integration classes („Intergrationsklassen“ or „Übergangsklassen“) for the foreign pupils. The challenge is the very different previous knowledge of the children and their general educational preconditions.

Bavaria distinguishes the following German-language training

Pre-courses /“Vorkurse“ German language
German language training classes
German language training courses
Integration classes
SPRINT- classes at Realschule
InGym – Integration at Gymnasium

Pre-courses /“Vorkurse“ German language

These courses are for children in kindergarten age and take place before enrollment in primary school. Your child will be assessed in a non-pressurizing way (the questionnaire is called SISMIK) by her or his kindergarten teacher. The training starts with age 4,5 and comprises 240 hours of German lessons until the child turns 6. Participating is not obligatory, however, the German language capabilities at age 6 may lead to rejection to primary school and in such case the training becomes obligatory.

German language training classes

These classes consist in addition to the regular class. I.e., your child will be part of class 2b with approximately 25 children with subjects taught in German only. For some hours a week, your child will participate in the German language training classes of maximum 12 children. During these hours the subjects are also taught in German, but with a specific focus on language competencies. Maximum duration is two years, and children are assigned to and taken out successively in accordance with the progress with the German language. The German language training classes are offered from grade 1 to 7 (5-7 in Mittelschule only). They are not available at every school, but only where the demand is existing based on the percentage of children with migration background.

German language training courses

German language training courses can comprise 1 to 4 hours per week in addition to the regular subjects. If further hours are recommended, the children will be freed from other subjects. The learning results for this course are evaluated and are also recorded in the half-yearly results as “German as second language”. The number of available hours per school is decided by the Bavarian School Authority (Schulamt).

Integration classes

These classes are offered for children coming to Germany aged 10 and older, i.e., grade 5 to 9. The objective is to enable these children a language competency as required for grade 9. The language is thought following the education schedule “German as second language” and is evaluated after each summary. It is also recorded in the results. Your child will be assigned to an integration class. Your resident address will be considered, however, significant commuting can be necessary. The duration is limited to two years whereafter your child will be enrolled in the school responsible for your resident address, where it will receive further German training in case of necessity. The classes comprise between 12 and 20 children. Depending on the demand, two subsequent grades can be combined (i.e., grade 3 and 4). The requirements for a transition to a Gymnasium are softer for a foreign child with German as the second language: minimum average mark should be 3,33 (instead of the regular 2,33).

More details (in German language only).

SPRINT- classes at Realschule

SPRINT (= SPRachförderung INTensiv) is another important offer of Bavarian secondary schools to enable nonGerman-speaking pupils to finalize Realschule. In parallel to an intensive German language training, they will be integrated into the regular procedures on grade 6 respectively 7.

Realschule with SPRINT classes:

Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Schule, Staatliche Realschule München II
Johann-Pachelbel-Realschschule, Staatliche Realschule Nürnberg III
Scheduled for school year 2016/17 :
Marieluise-Fleißer-Realschule, Staatliche Realschule München III
Ferdinand-von-Miller-Realschule, Staatliche Realschule Fürstenfeldbruck
Johann-Andreas-Schmeller-Realschule, Staatliche Realschule Ismaning
Staatliche Realschule Neubiberg
Städtische Carl-von-Linde Realschule
Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Realschule München
Marieluise-Fleißer-Realschule München
Johann-Andreas-Schmeller-Realschule Ismaning
Staatliche Realschule Neubiberg
Ferdinand-von-Miller-Realschule, Fürstenfeldbruck

InGym – Integration at Gymnasium

Städtische Adolf-Weber-Gymnasium
Adolf-Weber-Gymnasium offers a special international class where pupils are given 25 lessons a week in German in various subjects. After two month the pupils will participate in accordance with their progress in the regular subjects.

Wilhelm-Hausenstein-Gymnasium
Wilhelm-Hausenstein-Gymnasium offers a junior (classes 6-7) and a senior course (classes 8-9). These international classes (18 students maximum) are primarily instructed in German, English, and Mathematics, with the focus set clearly on the acquisition of the German language (20 lessons a week). The students aim for the proficiency of level A2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) at the end of the course. To that effect, the students are also taught natural and social science subjects in German.
Also, the students attend regular Arts, Music and PE classes to get to know German students their age. During the last weeks of the course, the students attend one of the regular classes of the year they are allocated to.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MUNICH SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR FOREIGN CHILDREN

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, INTEGRATION CLASSES, GERMAN LANGUAGE TRAINING IN MUNICH

PRIMARY SCHOOL