Children aged 6-12

Bremen Holiday Compass – the central portal

The Bremen Holiday Compass is a portal for parents that offers a central digital overview of supervised holiday activities in Bremen. There you will 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.

In Bremen, school attendance is compulsory. A child is generally enrolled in school if they turn six by June 30th of a given year. Children who turn six between July 1st and September 30th of that year can also register for school within the registration period (grace period child).

In autumn, parents receive a notification from the authorities regarding school enrollment. They must then register their child at the primary school closest to their 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 a child has a recognized special educational need, parents can indicate this when registering. The child will then be placed in a school that appropriately meets these needs.

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

Children who turn six by June 30th are required to start school on August 1st.
Those who turn six by December 31st ("waiting children") can be enrolled upon application – a school medical examination is required.

Parents receive counseling at the end of the fourth grade. Following this, a decision is made regarding the transition to a Gymnasium (academic high school) or Oberschule (comprehensive school). The process depends on academic performance, recommendations, and parental choice – attendance at the counseling session is mandatory

Bremen follows an integrative model – children with special educational needs are assigned centrally via the centers for supportive pedagogy (ZuP).

Individual assistance (school support) is regulated by law, but demand sometimes exceeds supply. A lack of support can lead to missed lessons

In Bremen, registration for secondary schools (from grade 5 onwards) is centralized, but handled through your child's primary school. Registration usually takes place in February for the new school year starting in August. Parents can find all the relevant information on the education website

Secondary school: grades 5–10 or 5–13, all qualifications possible (including the Abitur); and grammar school: grades 5–12, consistently at a grammar school level, faster preparation for the Abitur. All school types are free of charge and some offer all-day classes, support programs, or bilingual programs.

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 and educational support. The first points of contact are the Regional Counseling and Support Centers (ReBUZ), the parenting advice centers, and the Child Protection Center. The Bremen Family Network can help you find the right service!