School navigator

The Bochum School Navigator offers a digital guide to choosing the right school. With just a few clicks, you can create an individual selection of schools that match your own ideas.

Welcome to the School Navigator!

The Bochum School Navigator is a digital orientation service that helps you discover suitable schools and educational pathways within the city of Bochum. It is aimed at anyone who wants to find out about school options in Bochum - especially families, guardians, pupils and other interested parties.

The aim of the Navigator is to provide initial assistance in selecting suitable schools. The recommendations are based on personal preferences, which are queried using short questions - for example on the desired type of school, foreign language options, childcare options or educational focus.

Let's start with a short question:

Who should use the school navigator?

Please select one of the following options - so that we can display the appropriate information:

For me

This option should be selected if a person is looking for a school or a suitable educational pathway themselves.

For my child

This option should be selected if information is to be obtained for a child or another person - for example, for the next step in school life.

How the school navigator works

  • Diverse selection methods

    You are guided through the process step by step - via single or multiple selection, sliders or an interactive map.

  • How to navigate through our questions

    The questions are divided into different subject areas to enable clear processing and also, if desired, to skip areas completely if they are not relevant for the search.

  • Your questions at a glance

    The overview page shows you which questions you have already answered and which are still open. The results will be most meaningful if you answer all the questions asked.

How the school navigator works

  • Up to 12 short decision questions are asked that relate to central aspects of everyday school life.

  • Based on the answers, the Navigator shows a selection of schools that match the stated wishes.

  • The selection displayed may include several schools.

  • It is always possible to skip questions, go back or change the selection criteria to see other options.

Important notes on use

  • The recommendations of the School Navigator are non-binding and are intended solely for initial orientation.

  • The use of the Navigator does not give rise to any entitlement to admission to a proposed school.

  • The Navigator cannot replace personal discussions with schools, educational specialists or counseling centers. These remain central to making an informed decision.

  • No personal data is stored or processed during use. Therefore, individual requirements, such as grade point averages or special support needs, cannot be taken into account.

  • Whether a suitable admission to a school is actually possible must be clarified directly with the respective school.

Note on Förderschulen and special educational support

The school navigator also offers orientation to Förderschulen in Bochum. These schools are aimed at children and young people with an identified need for special educational support. Assignment to a special education focus (e.g. learning, language, emotional and social development, hearing, vision, mental or motor development) is carried out by the school supervisory authority.

Please note:

  • The Navigator cannot be used to determine individual support needs.

  • Parents usually apply for special educational needs support via their child's general school; the school supervisory authority decides on the type and scope of support.

  • Enrollment at a Förderschule cannot be done independently, but is always specified by the school supervisory authority.

  • Special educational support can take place both at general schools in joint learning and at Förderschulen. Parents have the right to choose if there is an appropriate offer in the region.

  • To make the right decision, it is advisable to seek personal advice from schools, school psychology services or the responsible school supervisory authority.

Supplementary recommendations

  • To make an informed school choice, it is recommended to attend information events such as open days, counseling sessions or school tours.

  • Contacting school psychological services or educational counseling centers can also help to clarify individual questions.

Legal notice

The School Navigator is a voluntary, supportive information service provided by the City of Bochum. It is used without guarantee of completeness or accuracy of the results displayed. There is no obligation on the part of the schools listed to accept applicants. We exclude liability for damages that may arise directly or indirectly from the use of the school navigator and the information it contains. Excluded from this is liability for intent or gross negligence.