Registration for secondary school

Change from Grundschule to secondary school

Information for parents on the new registration procedure

Liebe Eltern,
liebe Erziehungsberechtigte,

Ihr Kind wird im nächsten Schuljahr an eine weiterführende Schule wechseln. Wir möchten Ihnen gerne dabei helfen, dass die Anmeldung an der Wunsch-Schule möglichst reibungslos funktioniert.

First of all, the Grundschule issued a so-called "school type recommendation" for your child. This means that the previous school assesses your child's performance level and ability based on the experience of the four years of primary school. Although these recommendations are not binding, many years of experience show that the previous teachers are able to assess your child well. As it is important for your child to transfer to a type of school where they feel comfortable and can learn well, it is highly recommended that you trust and follow this Grundschule recommendation.

If you want to register your child at a type of school that has not been recommended, you are legally obliged to seek advice from the secondary school before registering. You can find out when and where such consultations are possible from both your Grundschule and your chosen secondary school.

There are basically two different systems to which the schools are assigned:

1. The schools for longer joint learning

   These include the Gesamtschulen and the Sekundarschulen in Bochum and

2. the so-called three-tier school system

   These include Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium, which are graded according to ability.

It is therefore first necessary to decide in which system your child can best develop their own abilities. It should be noted that it is possible in all types of school to obtain a qualified qualification after the 10th grade in order to subsequently obtain the highest school-leaving qualification, the Abitur, at a Gymnasium, Gesamtschule or Berufskolleg.

The actual registration procedure is as follows:
You will receive a registration form for secondary school and a transition declaration for this year's registration process from your Grundschule with your half-year report.
Use the registration form to register your child at the desired school.
If there are more applications for this school than there are school places available, the school management will determine the pupils to be admitted based on the criteria provided for this purpose.
This year, for the first time, a coordination procedure will be offered for all children who are unable to obtain a school place at the registered school in this way.
By agreeing to take part in this procedure, you are mandated to make a school place offer for these children that meets your desired criteria.
Therefore, please agree to the coordination procedure and be sure to indicate a second preferred school.
Please also indicate a preferred type of school.
With your signature, you as parents/guardians declare your child's participation in this year's coordination procedure.
The first priority is to fulfill the first preference. However, if this is not possible, the next step is to try to fulfill the second preference. If this is not possible due to a lack of school places at a few schools, you can be sure of a place for your child at a school of this type by specifying a preferred type of school.

If your child is unable to obtain a place with the initial application and takes part in the coordination process, you will be informed in writing about the school place available. This will relieve you of your own search for a suitable school place.

When registering your child at the school of choice, we recommend that you also agree to coordination in the event of a lack of a place at this school and submit the necessary documents.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0234 /910-3881 or by e-mail at PKueper@bochum.de.

Stadt Bochum
Schulverwaltungsamt

(23. Januar 2026)

Important notes:

• Information services: Open days and information evenings help with the choice of school. The brochure "Secondary schools in Bochum" provides an overview of all school types and locations.

• Consulting: If there are any uncertainties, teachers at Grundschulen or school counseling centers are available to provide advice.

• Special features of the transition: The change brings new challenges - new classmates, new subjects, a different daily routine. Close support can strengthen the child during this phase.