School system & Bochum schools

Grundschulen are the first stage of schooling. It usually lasts four years (grades 1-4). This is where children learn basic skills: Reading, writing, arithmetic - but also social interaction and independent work.

The teachers support each child individually. At the end of Grundschulen, parents receive a recommendation for the appropriate type of secondary school.

Förderschulen support children with special educational needs. The standard place of support is the general school, but parents can choose a Förderschule. There are 7 main areas of support: Learning, language, emotional and social development, vision, hearing and communication, mental development, physical and motor development. The need for support must be determined as part of an AO-SF procedure.

The Hauptschule provides a basic, practice-oriented education and prepares students for vocational training. Work placements and the "Business and the world of work" learning area support career choices. With the Mittlerer Schulabschluss, it is possible to transfer to a Gymnasium or Berufskolleg in order to obtain a general higher education entrance qualification or to start a dual apprenticeship.

The Realschule provides an in-depth general education and lays the foundation for further vocational and academic qualifications. Lessons combine theory and practice, are practice-oriented and take academic aspects into account. The intermediate school leaving certificate opens up the way to Gymnasium or Berufskollegs for the general higher education entrance qualification as well as dual training.

The Gymnasium provides an in-depth general education and prepares students for university studies or vocational training. It comprises the lower secondary level (grades 5-10, G9) and the three-year upper secondary level (Sekundarstufe II). In North Rhine-Westphalia, the upper secondary level can be attended at Gymnasien, Gesamtschulen or vocational Gymnasien.

Sekundarschulen prepare students for both vocational training and the upper secondary school. It works together with an upper secondary school and is usually an all-day school. In NRW, the upper secondary level can be attended at Gymnasien, Gesamtschulen or vocational Gymnasien.

Gesamtschulen offer a differentiated teaching system that prepares students for vocational training and university studies. The Gesamtschule comprises the lower secondary level (grades 5-10) as well as the three-year upper secondary level (Sekundarstufe II), which in North Rhine-Westphalia can also be attended at Gymnasien or vocational Gymnasiums.

Berufskollegs in NRW offer courses for vocational orientation, preparation for a career or studies, for obtaining a vocational qualification or for further vocational training. At the same time, general education qualifications up to the Abitur can be obtained there. The gymnasiale Oberstufe can be attended at Gymnasien, Gesamtschulen or vocational Gymnasien.

The Weiterbildungskolleg offers working people and people with professional experience the opportunity to obtain lower and upper secondary school qualifications. All qualifications can be obtained in the evening secondary school, evening grammar school and college courses. A special offer is "Abitur-Online" with reduced attendance times.

The Klinikschule is a municipal school where day clinic and inpatients at the VALEARA Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy in Bochum-Linden are taught. There is another location at Bergmannsheil Bochum, where children and adolescents are taught.