Allow you to change schools to another type of school

Would you like to apply for a change of school for your child to another type of school? Read here what you need to consider.

A change of school type takes place regularly after attending primary school. In the 4th grade of primary school, all pupils receive a recommendation for further school attendance from the 5th grade. This recommendation is not binding. You can also enroll your child in another type of school.

Under certain conditions, it is also possible to switch between lower secondary school types.

If your child is identified as having special educational needs, you decide whether your child should attend a special school or participate in inclusive education - usually at a focus school. The specific school to be attended is determined by the school authority.

If you change from a primary school to a lower secondary school, contact the desired school.

If you change to another type of lower secondary school, please contact the school you are currently attending.

If you switch from inclusive lessons to a special school or from a special school to inclusive lessons, please contact the school you are visiting.

In the event of a change, the following documents are required:

Change from primary school to lower secondary school:

• Half-year report of the last primary school year
• the registration form received from the primary school

Change to another type of lower secondary school:

• Recommendation of the class conference of the transferring Realschule plus

Change from a special school to inclusive lessons or from inclusive lessons to a special school

• Notification of the school authority about the school to be attended

The prerequisite for switching from primary school to lower secondary school is successful attendance at primary school.

A prerequisite for a change from a Realschule plus within the lower secondary level to a Gymnasium is a corresponding recommendation of the class conference.

A change to an integrated comprehensive school is only possible if there is reception capacity there.

Only pupils for whom the school authority has identified special educational needs are admitted to a special school or a focus school with inclusive education. The specific school to be attended is determined by the school authority after consultation with the parents.

§§ 11, 12, 1318, 19, 20, 21 de school regulations applicable to special schools (Sonderschulordnung SoSchO)

Opposition

Change from primary school to lower secondary school:

• You register your child at your desired lower secondary school.
• In the case of grammar schools and Realschulen plus, a "diversion procedure" may take place to another school of the corresponding type of school if the admission capacity of the desired school is exceeded.
• In the case of integrated comprehensive schools, a lottery procedure takes place if capacity is exceeded.

Changes within the types of lower secondary school:

• A change from a Realschule plus to a Gymnasium requires a corresponding recommendation from the class conference.
• A change from a Gymnasium to a Realschule plus is usually possible at the end of each school semester; in grade 10 only in special cases and only at the end of the school semester.

Change from inclusive teaching to a special school or change from special school to inclusive teaching

• If the special educational needs still exist, you can submit an informal application for a change to a special school or to inclusive lessons on the date of the half-year reports. The change will take effect at the beginning of the next school year. The specific special school or the specific focus school to be attended is determined by the school authority.

Change to another course of education at a special school or in inclusive lessons

• You must submit an informal application for a review of the special education priority or educational course. The school attended carries out the procedure. The decision is made by the school authority on the basis of a special education report.
• For the cancellation of the special education focus or the change to the same lessons, you submit an informal application to the school attended. The decision is made by the school management of the school attended.
• The receiving and transferring schools work together during the transition to ensure that the change succeeds.
• You will receive comprehensive advice.

When registering at a secondary school after primary school:

• at a nine-year grammar school/secondary school: registration after issuance of half-year reports by 5 March
• at an eight-year grammar school/integrated comprehensive school: Registration after school registration date between the issuance of the half-year reports and 14 February

For the change to a special school or for the change to inclusive teaching:

• the application must be submitted at the latest on the day of issue of the half-year certificates

There are no fees.