Registration for secondary school

Transition from Grundschule to Secondary School

Information for Parents on the New Registration Process

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, the Grundschule prepared a so-called “school placement recommendation” for your child. In this recommendation, your child’s current school assesses your child’s academic performance and potential based on the school’s experience over the four years of elementary school. Although these recommendations are not binding, many years of experience show that your child’s current teachers are well-equipped to assess your child. Since it is important for your child to transfer to a school type where they feel comfortable and can learn effectively, it is highly recommended that you trust and follow this Grundschule recommendation.

If you wish to enroll your child in a type of secondary school that has not been recommended, you are legally required to seek advice from the secondary school before enrolling your child. You can find out when and where such counseling sessions are available from both your Grundschule and the secondary school of your choice.

Basically, there are two different systems to which schools are assigned:

1. Schools with Extended Shared Learning

   These include the Gesamtschulen and Sekundarschulen in Bochum and

2. the so-called three-tiered school system

   These include the school types—Hauptschule, Realschule, and Gymnasium—which are categorized according to academic ability.

Accordingly, the first step is to decide which system will best allow your child to develop his or her abilities. It’s important to note that in all types of schools, it’s possible to earn a qualifying diploma after 10th grade and then go on to a Gymnasium, a Gesamtschule, or a Berufskolleg to earn the highest school-leaving diploma, the Abitur.

The specific registration process is as follows:Along with the midyear report card, you will receive an enrollment form for secondary school and a transition form for this year’s enrollment process from your Grundschule.
Use the enrollment form to enroll your child at the school of your choice.
If the number of applications for this school exceeds the number of available spots, the school administration will determine which students to admit based on established criteria.
For all children who are unable to secure a spot at the school they applied to through this process, a coordination process will be offered for the first time this year.
By agreeing to participate in this process, you authorize the school to offer these children a school placement that meets your preferred criteria.
Therefore, please agree to the coordination process and be sure to indicate a second-choice school.
In addition, please specify your preferred type of school.
By signing this form, you, as a parent or legal guardian, confirm your child’s participation in this year’s coordination process.
Fulfilling the first choice is the top priority. However, if this is not possible, the next step is to try to fulfill the second choice. If this cannot be achieved due to a lack of available spots at a few schools, your child is guaranteed a spot at a school of the type you specified.

If your child is unable to secure a spot through the initial registration and participates in the coordination process, you will be notified in writing of the school placement offer. This relieves you of the need to search for a suitable school placement on your own.

When enrolling your child at the school of your choice, we recommend that you agree to the coordination process in the event that there is no available spot at that school and that you submit the necessary documents.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us by phone at 0234 /910-3881 or by email at PKueper@bochum.de.

Stadt Bochum
Schulverwaltungsamt

(23. Januar 2026)

Important Notes:

• Information Resources: Open houses and information sessions help families choose a school. The brochure “Secondary Schools in Bochum” provides an overview of all school types and locations.

• Consulting: If you have any questions, Grundschule teachers or school counseling services are available to offer guidance.

• Special considerations regarding the transition: The transition brings new challenges—new classmates, new subjects, and a different daily routine. Close support can help strengthen the child during this phase.