WHERE TO GO

AFTER PRIMARY
SCHOOL?
Secondary schools 2024/2025
Registration, offers, qualifications

Senate Department
for Education, Youth
and Family
 Katharina Günther-Wünsch
Senator for Education, Youth and Family

Dear parents and guardians

I am delighted to present the “Where to go after primary We want to help you learn more about the different types of
school” brochure. The transition from primary to secondary school available in our city and find the school that is best
school is a big step in your child’s life. It not only marks the suited to your child’s specific strengths and needs. Whether
beginning of a new chapter, but also lays the foundation for your child will be attending a comprehensive school, a
their personal and academic development. It is therefore Gymnasium, an integrated secondary school or another type
extremely important that we as a society, as parents, as of school, we want to make sure that every single student gets
teachers and as educators work together to ensure that this the best possible education.
transition is a success.
The decision you make regarding your child’s secondary
This brochure contains important information, guidance and school is a personal and important one. I encourage you
recommendations that will help you choose the right school to carefully read through this brochure, speak to teachers
for your child. Berlin is home to a wide range of schools and take advantage of the career guidance on offer.
offering a variety of educational paths and support options. Your involvement and support are crucial to your child’s
educational success.

I wish your child every success and, above all, lots of fun as
they continue their learning journey at their new school.

Kind regards
CONTENTS
REGISTERING FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL 5
Finding the right school 10
Admission process 11

TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL 17

Gymnasium (grammar school) 17
Integrated secondary school (ISS) 20
Comprehensive school 23
School assessments 26
School qualifications 28

OFFERS AT ALL TYPES OF SCHOOL 33

All-day school 33
Foreign languages 35
Finding and fostering talent 40
Inclusion and special educational support 44

CONTACT AND INVOLVEMENT 48

Educational institutions 50
Getting involved in the school 53

DIRECTORY OF ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS

An overview with school addresses and information on foreign languages,
all-day school and other offers is available online at:
4
 REGISTERING FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

REGISTERING
FOR SECONDARY
SCHOOL
The Berlin education system offers a huge variety of
secondary schools. Choose a school that suits the interests
and abilities of your child, but also your family situation.
The teachers at your child’s primary school will help you with
this decision. They can assess your child’s abilities and how
your child learns. They will also be able to tell you about the
requirements of each type of secondary school.

REGISTRATION

When you receive your child’s first term report in 6th grade, you will also be given a support outlook for your child
and the registration form for your preferred secondary school.

→ You must register your child for your school of choice between 20 and 28 February 2024.

You will need to provide the original copies of the support outlook from the primary school and the completed
registration form.

You must specify three preferred schools on the registration form. These can be different types of school if you wish.
Three choices are required in case your school of choice is unable to take all children who have applied due to limited
places. There is a clearly regulated selection procedure in place for such situations. → page 11

5
Support outlook
The support outlook includes a recommendation for the type of school
that is likely to provide the best support for your child as they continue
their educational journey based on their skills and abilities.

It is intended to help you decide whether to send your child to an

integrated secondary school, comprehensive school or Gymnasium.

The support outlook is based on your child’s grades over the past two
school terms. An average grade is calculated based on these grades,
with different weightings used for the subjects.

CALCULATING THE AVERAGE GRADE

Example calculation of the average grade for the support outlook

The average grade is calculated based on the report grades from the second term of 5th grade and the first term
of 6th grade. The grades for German, maths, foreign languages, natural sciences and social sciences are counted
twice.

5th grade 6th grade

SUBJECT 2nd term 1st term Total

German 3 x2 3 x2 12
Maths 2 x2 2 x2 8
English 4 x2 3 x2 14
Natural sciences 2 x2 1 x2 6
Social sciences 3 x2 3 x2 12
Art 2 2 4
Music 3 3 6
Sports 3 2 5

13 grades 13 grades 67

The average grade is calculated as follows: 67 : (13 + 13) = 2.5

Average grade Recommended type of school according to support outlook

Gymnasium Integrated secondary school Comprehensive school

Up to 2.2 X X X

2.3 to 2.7 X* X* X*

2.8 and above X X

* In this case, the support outlook takes into account your child’s individual abilities.

6
 REGISTERING FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

Deciding on a type of school

Whether parents choose the Gymnasium, integrated Your child’s grades in their individual subjects and the
secondary school or comprehensive school, every child recommendations that teachers give you in your individual
will be accepted at their desired type of school. consultation will also help you with your decision.

However, in the case of integrated secondary schools and Although the different types of school are similar in many
comprehensive schools, your child may be allocated to the respects and lead to the same qualifications, the differences
other respective school type if there are not enough places. can be important when it comes to choosing the right school
for your child.
In the interests of your child and to help guide you, you
should refer to the support outlook when making your
decision. Your child’s teachers took great care in putting
this information together.

7
Choosing a different school to the one recommended
Has the integrated secondary school or comprehensive At the consultation, the school management will explain
school been recommended for your child? Do you what is expected of students at the school and the differences
nevertheless want to register for a Gymnasium as your between the types of school. The Gymnasium will then
first, second or third choice? And is your child’s average confirm on a form that the consultation has been held;
grade 3.0 or above? Then you will need to arrange a you must submit this form to your first-choice school.
consultation at the Gymnasium of your choice.

→P
 lease arrange an appointment for this consultation —
it should take place by 19 February 2024.

Key similarities and differences between the types of secondary school:

Integrated secondary school (ISS)

Gymnasium
and comprehensive school

Start From 7th grade (possible from 5th grade in some schools; at comprehensive schools, from 1st grade)

Probation year Yes No

Promotion/advancement to Advancement 7th – 10th grade: always

Promotion 5th/7th – 10th grade
next grade (voluntary repetition possible)

School years up to the Abitur 12 years 13 years

Possible school
Abitur, general certificate of education, advanced vocational qualification, certificate of vocational education
qualifications

Ability to undertake vocational training,

Educational objective Ability to study after 12 years
ability to study after 13 years

Students per class Max. 32 (grade 7) Max. 26 (grade 7/8)

7th / 8th grade: 33 hours, 7th / 8th grade: 31 hours,

Teaching time per week
9th / 10th grade: 34 hours 9th / 10th grade: 32 hours

Bound, partially bound or open

All-day school At some Gymnasiums
(page 34)

Lunch offer Bound, partially bound or open (page 34)

Upper level centres (with vocational Gymnasium),

other ISS or comprehensive schools
Binding cooperation with ... Primary schools
with an upper secondary level; at ISS,
also primary schools

1st FL is continued, 1st FL is continued,

Foreign languages (FL)
2nd FL compulsory 2nd FL as optional compulsory elective

Dual learning Possible Yes

(page 21) (job-emphasis profile as an offering) (school defines concept in school curriculum)

Internship Yes Yes

Yes, two levels

Performance differentiation No
(page 26)

Individual support Yes Yes

8
Important questions about changing school
… to ask the primary school
• What average grade and support outlook is the primary school giving your child?
• What do the teachers recommend in the personal consultation?
• From what the teachers have observed, how has your child performed over the last two years of primary school?
• Has your child managed to learn independently and without any major difficulties so far?
• Does your child learn quickly or do they often need things to be repeated in order to understand and retain what is being taught?
• What pace of learning is appropriate for your child?
• Does your child frequently need a lot of help when completing learning tasks and preparing classwork?

… to ask yourself and your child

• Which secondary school does your child want to go to, and why?
• Which local schools are being considered by your family?
• What does your child find difficult about learning?
• What are your child’s favourite subjects and interests?
• Which extracurricular activities, such as team sports, music lessons or choir, does your child want to pursue at the
new school as part of a study group or an all-day school offering?

... to ask the secondary school

• Which courses does the school offer as elective subjects?
• Does the school offer support options such as afternoon courses or differentiated lessons to help your child develop
and build on their strengths?

• Can your child continue their first foreign language at the new school?
• Does the school offer the second foreign language that your child wants to learn?
• Does your child already have a particular career in mind, and does the school offer a suitable specialist focus or
an educational model that includes career preparation and dual learning?

• What cooperations does the school have with businesses, institutions and schools, for example?
• Which projects does the school support which are important to your child?

9
Finding the right school
Once you have decided on the type of school, you then need to find
the right secondary school for your child. As each school only has a
limited number of places and may not be able to take all the children
who have been registered, you also need to specify two other schools
as your second and third choice.

→ Take the time to research and compare what the different schools have to offer.
The online school directory will help with this.

Online school directory

• School research based on various criteria, such as district, type of school, foreign
languages offered, all-day school offering, state schools or independent fee-paying
schools

• Display of all schools in the local area, including link to the relevant school websites
• Neutral reports of school inspections with information on school conditions, way of working
and quality

• School profiles with information on cooperations, facilities, lunch offering, performance

differentiation, support options and focus on areas such as sports, art, music, maths/natural
sciences, IT, theatre, language, media or the environment

Open days
Many schools organise open days between October and February or attend secondary school
fairs in order to demonstrate what they offer.

That includes the current range of elective subjects available, planned study groups and
cooperations, among other things.

You and your child can also use this opportunity to explore the classrooms and recreational
areas. Students at the school often also present project work and talk about their experience.

The dates for the open days and secondary school fairs are available from the district school
boards and can also be found in the online school directory on the school sites and in the
online calendar.

← A
 ll schools in Berlin, ← S
 enate Department for Education,
including detailed information Youth and Family online calendar

10
 REGISTERING FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

Admission process
If there are enough school places for the registrations If a school receives more registrations than it has places,
received, your child can attend your secondary school of new students will be selected according to fair rules. As a
choice — provided that your child is able to continue the general rule, siblings and children from the same household
first foreign language that they started at primary school as students who are still attending the school concerned at
at this secondary school. the start of the school year are accepted.

SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSION RULES*

All secondary schools accept children with special educational needs first — up to a maximum of four per class.

The remaining places are allocated according to certain quotas:

• Up to 10% siblings and hardship cases, for example children who need to attend a school near where they live
due to illness,
• At least 60% according to school-specific, objective and transparent criteria; the choice of second foreign
language can be factored in here,
• 30% drawn by lot — after taking into account any siblings who have not yet been accepted at this stage.
30% decision by lot

up to 60% admission criteria

up to 10% siblings and hardship cases

Secondary school selection is determined by the following criteria:

• Average grade in support outlook,

• Total grades from up to four subjects that are part of the school or class profile from the last two term reports,
whereby certain subjects may be given a double weighting,
• The school child’s competencies that match the school or class profile,
• The results of a profile-related, standardised verbal or written test or a practical exercise.
Each school decides for itself:

• The order of the criteria,

• A combination of several criteria,
• A percentage weighting or
• The definition of certain criteria for individual profiled classes.
You can find out which selection criteria have been specified by your preferred school from the school itself or by
checking the online school directory.

* Comprehensive schools
The differing admission rules are listed on page 24. To ensure that classes are mixed in terms of ability, the school is not
allowed to solely consider the performance of school children.

11
ASSIGNMENT OF SCHOOL PLACES FROM 7TH GRADE
Advice and registration by 01/02/2024
Mandatory consultation at the primary
school with the parents
PRIMARY SCHOOL
on 02/02/2024
Report, support outlook and registration form
Registration with registration form and support outlook, by 19/02/2024
including specification of the first, second and third-choice
1
schools. Children with identified special educational needs If wishing to attend a Gymnasium and average
2
can also be registered at a school with a special educational 3
grade ≥ 3.0, consultation with parents at the
focus during the registration period without following a Gymnasium and confirmation of consultation
formal process. However, they should still take part in the
selection procedure for a place at a general school. between 20/02 and 28/02/2024
Registration at the first-choice school
First-choice school
More applications than school places Enough school places available

FIRST-CHOICE SCHOOL

Secondary school admission criteria

1. H ardship cases (≤ 10%): if deviation from the

school of choice is unreasonable, siblings ADMISSION
2. Selection criteria (≥ 60%): Average grade,
recommended school type, grade total,
competencies, test
3. Decision by lot (30%): priority given to siblings

Admission to comprehensive school

1. Advancement from own primary level Admission according to criteria
2. Siblings
3. School-specific selection criteria or decision ADMISSION
by lot

No admission possible

Second and third-choice school

More applications than school Enough school places available
places after first choice process following first choice process

DISTRICT SCHOOL
BOARD
School place allocation
Admission
1. To children in the district
2. Based on the average grade ADMISSION

No admission possible
on 11/06/2024
Sending of notification of admission or non-
School place allocation admission to parents

by 12/07/2024
Admission proposal to the parents of children
who are not accepted by any of their three
DISTRICT SCHOOL
Secondary school proposal BOARD schools of choice

1. Based on support outlook

2. Berlin-wide selection

Parents can also look for and propose a school ADMISSION

place themselves.

12
 REGISTERING FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

Not enough places available? Changing school after 4th grade

You specified three preferred schools on the registration form. If you want your child to move on to secondary school
By doing this, you are giving your child two alternatives in case earlier, after 4th grade, you must inform the class teacher
there are not enough places at your first-choice school. by mid-December 2023. The primary school will arrange
a consultation with you by the end of January 2024 at the
If this does happen, the second-choice school will admit your latest.
child if it has enough places. Children who live in the school
district will be given priority. On Friday 2 February 2024, your child will receive their 4th
grade first term report together with a support outlook. This
If this school also has more second-choice applications will enable you to register your child for up to three preferred
than it does free places, the average grade in the support schools.
outlook will be the deciding factor. This process will be
repeated for the third-choice school where necessary. If your child is expected to attend a fast learner class,
they will need to take an aptitude test. You must register
your child for this test at your school of choice between
Notification of admission 9 and 12 January 2024.

On 11 June 2024, the school board sends notification of the The admission of your child may be subject to certain
admission of your child. If none of your top three choices of conditions, such as report grades or passing an admission
school are able to admit your child, the school board will test, and the process is carried out in accordance with the
notify you of another school in the desired category of school order of priority of certain criteria.
that would admit your child by no later than 12 July 2024. This
school may be in a different district. Any student who does not pass the 5th grade at the
Gymnasium, which is considered to be a probation year,
If you do not wish to accept this school place, you will have will move back to primary school for 6th grade.
to find another school with a place for your child.

← Information about the transition

REGISTRATION FOR 5TH GRADE REGISTRATION PERIODS FOR

ADMISSION TESTS TRANSITION TO 5TH GRADE

Fast learner test First choice: 13–16/02/2024

Registration: 09–12/01/2024 Second choice: 18–19/03/2024
Test day: 20/01/2024 Third choice: 18–19/04/2024

Tests for music Gymnasiums and French Gymnasium

First choice process: Test registration by 12/01/2024 ADMISSION DECISION

For the test date and all subsequent dates, please The district school board notifies you of the decision
check with the relevant school in good time. regarding admission of your child on the following
dates:
Test for science classes and mathematics and science
classes First-choice school: 11/03/2024
First choice process: 20/02/2024 Second-choice school: 12/04/2024
Second choice process: 20/03/2024 Third-choice school: 26/04/2024

13
 SECONDARY SCHOOLS FROM 5TH GRADE

Classical language classes Hildegard-Wegscheider-Gymnasium

Arndt-Gymnasium Dahlem (06Y03 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) (04Y08 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Barnim-Gymnasium (11Y09 – Lichtenberg) Melanchthon-Gymnasium (10Y11 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)
Diesterweg-Gymnasium (01Y09 – Mitte)
Eckener-Gymnasium (07Y07 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg)
Europäisches Gym. Bertha-von-Suttner (12Y02 – Reinickendorf) Music profile classes
Goethe-Gymnasium (04Y11 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasium
Gymnasium Steglitz (06Y13 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) (02Y04 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Heinrich-Schliemann-Gymnasium (03Y04 – Pankow) Melanchthon-Gymnasium (10Y11 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)
Heinz-Berggruen-Gymnasium Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (01Y04 – Mitte)
(04Y06 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Kant-Gymnasium (05Y02 – Spandau)
Schadow-Gymnasium (06Y01 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) Classes with a sports emphasis
Schul- und Leistungssportzentrum Berlin
(Sportforum) (11A07 – Lichtenberg)
Bilingual classes Sportschule im Olympiapark – Poelchau-Schule
Carl-von-Ossietzky-Gymnasium (03Y08 – Pankow) (04A08 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Friedrich-Engels-Gymnasium (12Y01 – Reinickendorf) Staatliche Ballett- und Artistikschule Berlin (03B08 – Pankow)
Hans-Carossa-Gymnasium (05Y03 – Spandau)
Johann-Gottfried-Herder-Gymnasium (11Y02 – Lichtenberg)
Primo-Levi-Gymnasium (03Y14 – Pankow) Fast learner classes
Romain-Rolland-Gymnasium (12Y07 – Reinickendorf) Albrecht-Dürer-Gymnasium (08Y01 – Neukölln)
Rückert-Gymnasium (07Y02 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) Dathe-Gymnasium (02Y05 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Humboldt-Gymnasium (12Y03 – Reinickendorf)
Lessing-Gymnasium (01Y08 – Mitte)
French Otto-Nagel-Gymnasium (10Y02 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)
Französisches Gymnasium (01Y07 – Mitte) Rosa-Luxemburg-Gymnasium (03Y10 – Pankow)
Werner-von-Siemens-Gymnasium (06Y05 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)

Japanese
Gustav-Heinemann-Oberschule Independent schools
(07K03 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) Bilinguale Schule Phorms Berlin Mitte (Gymnasium)
(01P18 – Mitte): bilingual; German–English
Canisius-Kolleg (01P06 – Mitte): focus on classical languages
Mathematics and Evangelische Schule Frohnau (Gymnasium)

science profile classes (12P03 – Reinickendorf): focus on the arts

Evangelische Schule Köpenick (Gymnasium)
Andreas-Gymnasium (02Y01 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) (09P07 – Treptow-Köpenick)
Heinrich-Hertz-Gymnasium Evangelisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster (04P11 –
(02Y03 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf): focus on classical languages
Herder-Gymnasium (04Y05 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) Jüdisches Gymnasium Moses Mendelssohn
Immanuel-Kant-Gymnasium (11Y11 – Lichtenberg) (01P03 – Mitte): focus on Hebrew
Käthe-Kollwitz-Gymnasium (03Y03 – Pankow) Katholische Schule Liebfrauen (Gymnasium) (04P04 –
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf): focus on classical languages
Katholische Theresienschule (Gymnasium)
Science profile classes (03P10 – Pankow): focus on classical languages
Eckener-Gymnasium (07Y07 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) Königin-Luise-Stiftung (Gymnasium)
Emmy-Noether-Gymnasium (09Y11 – Treptow-Köpenick) (06P06 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf): focus on English
Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium (05Y01 – Spandau) Moser-Schule – Schweizer Gymnasium (04P24 –
Hans-Carossa-Gymnasium (05Y03 – Spandau) Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf): bilingual; German–French

14
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16
 TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

TYPES OF
SECONDARY
SCHOOL
Gymnasium (grammar school)
Is your child thirsty for knowledge? Do they love learning and
like to explore new topics independently? Is this backed up by
good grades in primary school? Then the Gymnasium gives
them the opportunity to obtain their Abitur in 12 years.
The Gymnasium aims to prepare children and young people for
university or an equivalent vocational education. This includes
intensive support right through to their Abitur exams.

This school also gives students an insight into academic ways of

working. This is important, because being able to study means
students being prepared for a phase in their learning journey where
they are required to explore new, complex areas of knowledge
independently and plan for their future career.

The Gymnasium places particular demands on the students who attend this
type of school:

• More teaching time per week than at other secondary schools

• An excellent ability to learn independently
• Strong motivation

17
Gymnasium from 5th grade?
38 Gymnasiums and one integrated secondary school
allow particularly high-performing children to study at the
secondary school from 5th grade.

These schools have a specially tailored class profile,

which enables them to support and promote the talent
and abilities of students in specific areas.

Some schools offer exceptionally gifted children additional

content and accelerated learning opportunities.

Individual support
The Gymnasium offers a wide range of individual support
options, from support for gifted children and learning
coaching to inclusive specialist schools.

There are also special offerings such as profile courses,

school orchestras, participation in competitions like
“Jugend forscht” (Young researchers) and lessons in
cooperation with Berlin universities.

Foreign languages
One area of focus at Gymnasiums is foreign language
learning. All school children learn a second foreign
language right from the start. Those who want to can
also quickly pick up a third and—if available—even
fourth foreign language. Many Gymnasiums also organise Cooperations
regular exchanges with foreign partner schools.
Gymnasiums regularly cooperate with businesses,
universities, scientific institutions, research facilities and other
Requirements establishments.

As students complete their education in 12 school years at a This allows students to forge a varied school career that is
Gymnasium, they need to acquire the knowledge and skills tailored to their interests and abilities.
required for their Abitur in a shorter space of time. There is
therefore 33 hours (7th, 8th grade) or 34 hours (9th, 10th
grade) of compulsory teaching per week at the Gymnasium Upper secondary school
— two hours more than at integrated secondary schools or
comprehensive schools. At the end of the school year, the At the Gymnasium, 10th grade serves two functions: It is both
student’s report grades determine who will move up to the the last grade of secondary level I and the bridge to the
next grade or have to repeat the year. qualification phase. Students can obtain the general certificate
of education (MSA) at the end of 10th grade based on their
The first year at the Gymnasium is a probationary period. grades for that year without having to take any additional exams.
The aim of this year is to find out if the children’s learning
behaviour meets the requirements of this type of school. If If students also meet the requirements for promotion, they
your child is not able to perform at the required level, they transition into the course system for the upper secondary
will leave the Gymnasium after the probation year and school. Instead of being taught as a class, the students are
switch to the 8th grade at an integrated secondary school. then taught on basic and advanced courses.

18
 → Page 14 lists the
schools that offer
secondary school
education from 5th grade
with various talent
profiles.

Promotion and
probation year at the
Gymnasium

→ Detailed information
on page 27

← Gymnasium

19
Integrated secondary school
Opportunities for everyone: At the integrated secondary school (ISS),
every single student can achieve the best qualification for them – whether
that’s an advanced vocational qualification or the Abitur.

20
 TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

Individual support Dual learning

The secondary school offers individual support and a All integrated secondary schools offer dual learning in
differentiated approach in order to accommodate and grades 7 to 10. This combines learning in school with
foster students’ different learning needs, abilities, interests learning in a practical environment.
and knowledge.
As the world of work grows ever more complex, dual learning
It takes into account the entire learning group as well as is designed to help children and young people:
all the children as individuals, and will develop a tailored
educational programme for your child. • Discover their passions, interests and abilities,
• Hone their focus early on with the aid of the career
One way in which the school does this is with different choice pass,
performance requirements and assessment options: • Identify their own strengths and
Teachers create tasks with different levels of difficulty, • Find corresponding job profiles and opportunities.
for example, allowing students to access them at the right
level for them. Students are actively involved in shaping their experience
at the learning site outside of school. They spend a lot of
In addition, performance is assessed at two levels in time in class preparing for their work experience, projects
some subjects: Basic and advanced. → Page 26 or internships and then evaluate their findings afterwards.

There are also learning offers for children and young Dual learning options:
people with special needs, such as:
• Work experience,
• Disabilities, • Taster internships and multi-week industrial placements,
• Special talents, • Work in various school workshops,
• Language support, • Simulation of an assessment centre
• Lack of motivation to regularly attend school. (staff selection procedure used by many companies),
• Visit to a laboratory for students (for example, “PhysLab”
Depending on the school profile, the children’s different at Freie Universität Berlin or “Gläsernes Labor”
interests and talents are supported with: [Glass laboratory] at Campus Berlin-Buch),
• Organisation of school companies,
• The flexible scheduling of lessons in individual subjects, • Visit to fairs, such as “Tag der Berufsbildung”
• A wide range of elective courses, (vocational education day),
• Study groups, • Studying as part of practical learning groups.
• Additional learning opportunities in all-day school,
• Close cooperation between teachers and childcare Integrated secondary schools work with businesses and
workers, as well as social workers. institutions to deliver vocational education and prepare
students for the world of work. This includes businesses and
The individual support given ensures that, at integrated secondary companies in the Berlin Chamber of Skilled Crafts, the Berlin
schools, all students automatically move up to the next grade at Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Federation of
the end of the school year. However, it is also possible to repeat a Business Associations in Berlin and Brandenburg (Vereinigung
year with the approval of the class or school year committee. der Unternehmensverbände in Berlin und Brandenburg e. V.)
and the Berlin Association of Independent Professionals
(Freie Berufe in Berlin e. V.).

← Integrated secondary school ← Dual learning

21
Cooperations
To make sure that your child is well prepared for the new
school’s requirements and ways of working, there are binding
cooperation agreements in place, such as the teacher
exchange scheme.

The schools also work with partners outside of the school

system. When it comes to the organisation of full-day
offerings in particular, integrated secondary schools work with
specialists from the field of youth work, with businesses as
part of the dual learning offering and with local recreational
and educational facilities. The cooperations with youth
associations also help to promote civic engagement among
the young people.

Career orientation
All students at the integrated secondary school benefit
from individual career guidance tailored to their learning
requirements, abilities and level of commitment.

This includes career and study orientation (BSO) measures

and the establishment of BSO teams. These teams
School qualifications
comprise a BSO coordination and career guidance expert
at a glance
(employment agency) and an upper level centre teacher.
They work closely with the youth employment agency. → Detailed information
from page 28

School qualifications
All qualifications are possible at the integrated secondary
school:

• Vocational qualification or a qualification equivalent to

the certificate of vocational education for young people
with the “learning” special educational need,
• Certificate of vocational education (BBR),
• Advanced vocational qualification (eBBR),
• General certificate of education (MSA, MSA-GO — with
entitlement to begin the introductory phase of the upper
secondary school),
• Abitur.

If an integrated secondary school does not have its own

upper secondary school on site, the school will have a
binding cooperation with another secondary school or a
vocational Gymnasium or provide an upper secondary level
in alliance with other integrated secondary schools.

22
Comprehensive school
The comprehensive school enables students with different
learning requirements to learn together from their very
first day of school right through to their chosen school
qualification. This means that they can move from primary
to secondary level at the same school when they reach
7th grade.

← Comprehensive school

23
Process for admission from 7th grade: Joint and
individual learning
• School children from the school’s own primary level,
• All siblings and up to 10% hardship cases,
• Allocation of the remaining places according to The aim of the comprehensive school is to offer more equality
school-specific admission criteria and/or by lot. and fairness, and it does this by providing different forms of
individual learning.
To ensure that the school population is mixed ability,
school children with all support outlooks, irrespective of Teaching at the comprehensive school is fundamentally
the average grade, are to be given equal consideration. shaped by the principle of a joint learning group.

Comprehensive school usually starts from 1st grade, Within this group, every child receives individual support and
carries on into the secondary level with grades 7 to 10 completes tasks at their own level.
and offers all qualifications, right up to the Abitur.
Some comprehensive schools continue cross-year learning in
grades 7 to 10.
These schools are able to offer the Abitur through:
With an extremely wide range of learning options, from
• Their own upper secondary school, elective courses and project work to tailored offerings such as
• Binding cooperations with other schools learning offices, the school supports every child according to
(comprehensive schools, integrated secondary schools, their ability — and only demands of each child what they are
upper level centres with an upper secondary school) or capable of achieving.
• An upper secondary level in alliance.

24
 TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

BERLIN COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS GRADE

Anna-Essinger-Gemeinschaftsschule (06K11 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) 1 – 13

Anna-Seghers-Schule (09K02 – Treptow-Köpenick) 1 – 13
B.-Traven-Gemeinschaftsschule (05K05 – Spandau) 1 – 10
Bergmannkiez-Gemeinschaftsschule (02K04 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) 1 – 10
Campus Hannah Höch (12K12 – Reinickendorf) 1 – 10
Carl-von-Ossietzky-Schule (02K02 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) 1 – 13
Emanuel-Lasker-Schule (02K06 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) 1 – 13
Friedenauer Gemeinschaftsschule (07K12 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) 1 – 13
Fritz-Karsen-Schule (08K06 – Neukölln) 1 – 13
Gemeinschaftsschule auf dem Campus Rütli (08K08 – Neukölln) 1 – 13
Gemeinschaftsschule Campus Efeuweg (08K13 – Neukölln) 1 – 10
Gretel-Bergmann-Gemeinschaftsschule (10K12 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf) 1 – 10
Grünauer Gemeinschaftsschule (09K09 – Treptow-Köpenick) 1 – 13
Grüner Campus Malchow (11K10 – Lichtenberg) 1 – 13
Heinrich-von-Stephan-Gemeinschaftsschule (01K04 – Mitte) 1 – 13
Marcana-Schule (10K11 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf) 1 – 10
Paul-und-Charlotte-Kniese-Schule (11K12 – Lichtenberg) 1 – 13
Paula-Fürst-Schule (04K05 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) 1 – 13
Sophie-Brahe-Gemeinschaftsschule (09K07 – Treptow-Köpenick) 1 – 13
Tesla-Schule (03K07 – Pankow) 1 – 10
Theodor-Heuss-Gemeinschaftsschule (01K10 – Mitte) 1 – 13
Walter-Gropius-Schule (08K01 – Neukölln) 1 – 13
Wilhelm-von-Humboldt-Gemeinschaftsschule (03K11 – Pankow) 1 – 13
Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart-Schule (10K10 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf) 1 – 10

STATE-RECOGNISED INDEPENDENT COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS

Alternativschule Berlin* (12P11 – Reinickendorf) 1 – 13

Annie-Heuser-Schule (04P12 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) 1 – 12
Berthold-Otto-Schule (06P13 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) 1 – 10
Deutsch Skandinavische Gemeinschaftsschule
(07P13 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) 1 – 10
Elisabethstift-Schule (12P06 – Reinickendorf) 1 – 10
Emil-Molt-Schule* (06P05 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) 1 – 13
Evangelische Schule Berlin Zentrum (01P23 – Mitte) in Kooperation mit
In addition, all comprehensive schools are Evangelische Schule Berlin Mitte (01P01 – Mitte) 1 – 13
all-day schools, many of them bound all-day Freie Waldorfschule am Prenzlauer Berg* (03P30 – Pankow) 1 – 13
schools. Freie Waldorfschule Berlin Mitte* (01P04 – Mitte) 1 – 13
Freie Waldorfschule Berlin-Südost* (09P01 – Treptow-Köpenick) 1 – 13
Working with log books or competency grids Freie Waldorfschule Havelhöhe – Eugen Kolisko* (05P01 – Spandau) 1 – 13
enables the students to reflect on their own Freie Waldorfschule Kreuzberg* (02P04 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) 1 – 13
learning development and skills and discuss Freudberg Gemeinschaftsschule (04P41 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) 1 – 13
them with their teachers. This allows students Internationale Lomonossow-Schule Berlin
to learn at their own pace. (10P10 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf, 01P25 – Mitte) 1 – 13
Johannes-Schule Berlin* (07P18 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) 1 – 13
All students regularly receive individual Klax-Gemeinschaftsschule (03P22 – Pankow) 1 – 13
learning and performance feedback — Lauder Beth-Zion Schule (03P26 – Pankow) 1 – 10
written assessments of learning progress, MeineSchuleBerlin (08P09 – Neukölln) 1 – 10
goals achieved, strengths and weaknesses. Montessori Campus Berlin Köpenick (09P06 – Treptow-Köpenick) 1 – 10
These either supplement the relevant grade Montessori-Gemeinschaftsschule Berlin-Buch (03P32 – Pankow) 1 – 10
report or occasionally replace it up to the Platanus Schule Berlin (03P28 – Pankow) 1 – 10
end of 8th grade. Rudolf-Steiner-Schule Berlin* (06P04 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) 1 – 13
SchuleEins (03P20 – Pankow) 1 – 13
Waldorfschule Märkisches Viertel Berlin* (12P02 – Reinickendorf) 1 – 13

* At this school, the Abitur is offered as part of the external candidate examination process.
25
School assessments
Students can evaluate and compare their performance with the aid of the
grades carefully prepared by their teachers. The grades can also help to
motivate the students and serve as the basis for their chosen qualification.

Basic and advanced level

Teachers at integrated secondary schools (ISS) and Students who study on courses at one performance level can
comprehensive schools teach and assess maths, German, switch to a course at the other level halfway through the year
the student’s first foreign language and at least one if it is evident that the current tasks are too challenging or
natural science subject at two performance levels: Basic not challenging enough for them. The teachers will support
level and advanced level. the students with this decision. They challenge your child
according to their ability, monitor progress and support and
The content taught, tasks set and requirements placed advise them at school.
on the students at advanced level are more demanding
than at the basic level. At the advanced level, students are assessed in the relevant
performance-differentiated subjects with points on a scale
Depending on their learning requirements in the specific from 0 to 15; at the basic level, with points from 0 to 12. The
subject, the children and young people will study at basic points are converted into grades based on the relevant level.
or advanced level — either on a course at this level or
as part of a joint learning group. The assessment scale for the advanced level is authoritative
for all students working towards the general certificate
of education (MSA), as it corresponds to the examination
requirements.

26
 TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

Grades at basic and advanced level:

Advanced level without

Basic level
performance differentiation
Points
Grade Grade

15

15
14 1

15
13
14

15
14
12

15
14
11 2 1

10
15
14
At ISS and comprehensive schools, the term and
15
14
9 annual reports indicate whether a subject was
taught and assessed at basic or advanced level.
15
14
8 3 2
Some schools award points rather than grades in
15
14
7 7th and 8th grade.

15
14
6
3
15
14
5 4

15
14
4
4
15
14
3

14
2 5
5
1

0 6 6

Promotion to the next grade at the Gymnasium

Students are promoted to the next grade at the Gymnasium if, on
their report, they have

• A 5 in no more than one subject and at least a 4 in all other subjects,

• A 5 in no more than two subjects, but these grades are compensated
with a 3 in at least two other subjects,
• A 6 in no more than one subject, but this grade is compensated
with a 2 or 1 in at least two other subjects.

If a student gets a 5 in a core subject, this grade can only be

compensated with a grade in another core subject. If a student gets
one grade of 6 or two grades of 5 in core subjects, promotion is no
longer possible.

The core subjects at Gymnasiums are maths, German, the first and
second foreign language, and the third foreign language in classical
language classes at Gymnasiums starting at 5th grade.

27
School qualifications
General education schools in Berlin offer the following qualifications:

Qualification Timing Final examination

General higher education entrance qualification

End of 12th or 13th grade Grades from the four course terms and exam results
(Abitur)

Fulfilment of requirements — examinations (except

General certificate of education
End of 10th grade at Gymnasiums) and performance over the year at
(Mittlerer Schulabschluss, MSA)
advanced level

Fulfilment of requirements — examinations (except

Advanced vocational qualification
End of 10th grade at Gymnasiums) and performance over the year at
(Erweiterte Berufsbildungsreife, eBBR)
basic level

Certificate of vocational education

End of 9th and 10th grade Standardised tests (at Gymnasium: promotion)
(Berufsbildungsreife, BBR)

Qualification equivalent to the certificate of

vocational education for students with the End of 10th grade Standardised tests and team presentation
“learning” special educational focus

Vocational qualification
(Berufsorientierender Abschluss, BOA)
End of 10th grade Standardised tests and team presentation
for students with the “learning”
special educational focus

Vocational qualification (BOA) Qualification equivalent to certificate

Students with the “learning” special educational focus
of vocational education
obtain the vocational qualification (Berufsorientierender
Abschluss, BOA) at the end of 10th grade. Students with the “learning” special educational focus
can obtain the qualification equivalent to the certificate
To obtain this qualification, in addition to achieving an of vocational education at the end of 10th grade.
average grade of 4.0 or better, they must achieve the
necessary grades in German, maths and economy/work/ In addition to achieving an average grade of 3.0 or better,
technology, in standardised tests in maths and German, they must achieve the necessary grades in German, maths
and in a team presentation. and economy/work/technology, in standardised tests in
maths and German, and in a team presentation.
If these requirements are not met, the young person
will receive a leaving certificate. The grades specified
correspond to the performance level for the “learning”
special educational focus.

28
 TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

Certificate of General higher education entrance

vocational education (BBR) qualification (Abitur)
At the end of 9th grade, provided that they achieve the required The upper secondary school (secondary level II) comprises
grades during the year and in the standardised tests in German the one-year introductory and two-year qualification phase. It
and maths, students are awarded the certificate of vocational ends with the Abitur. At the Gymnasium, this level starts in 10th
education (Berufsbildungsreife, BBR). This qualification can be grade with the introductory phase. Students can obtain the
achieved even if a student repeats the school year. Abitur at the end of 12th grade.

Students at the Gymnasium obtain the certificate of vocational At integrated secondary schools and comprehensive schools
education automatically when they move up to 10th grade. with an upper secondary school and at vocational Gymnasiums,
the 11th grade is the introductory phase. The Abitur is offered
At integrated secondary schools and comprehensive schools, after 13 years of school. To study for this qualification, students in
the certificate of vocational education is based on the total 10th grade must have the necessary entitlement to move up to
of all report grades at basic level from 9th or 10th grade. To upper secondary school – only then can they continue on to this
calculate this, the grades in the performance-differentiated next level and work towards their Abitur.
subjects are converted to the basic level.
The Abitur examination at the end of the upper secondary
The certificate of vocational education is also dependent on the school consists of five exams:
student’s performance in the core subjects of German and maths,
as well as the first foreign language or economy/work/technology. • Three written exams of several hours in the two advanced
To achieve the qualification, the students sit standardised tests in course subjects and one basic course subject,
German and maths with corresponding requirements. • A verbal exam in another basic course subject and
• The fifth examination component: a special assignment or
the presentation of a cross-curricular topic that the student
General certificate of education has worked on themselves.
(MSA) and advanced vocational As the examination tasks and standards are the same across
qualification (eBBR) all secondary schools, the Abitur qualification is identical at
all types of school in Berlin.
Students who wish to achieve the general certificate of
education (mittlerer Schulabschluss, MSA) or the advanced
vocational qualification (erweiterte Berufsbildungsreife, eBBR)
at the end of 10th grade must pass an exam.

The respective qualification is based on the student’s report

grades in 10th grade and the exam results in German, maths,
the first foreign language and a presentation.

At integrated secondary schools, it is common to convert the

grades achieved in performance-differentiated subjects into
advanced or basic level grades.

For the general certificate of education, the advanced level

requirements must be met. For the advanced vocational
qualification, the grades according to the basic level are
sufficient.

At Gymnasiums, the MSA and eBBR qualifications can be

obtained based on students’ grades for the year. At Waldorf ← Examinations and qualifications
schools, the general certificate of education is usually offered
in 11th grade.

29
The Berlin school system

13 ABITUR
SECONDARY
SCHOOL
UPPER

12 5 3 2
4 6
11
MSA
10 eBBR/*
SECONDARY LEVEL I

BBR
9
4 3
8
7

6
2 6
5
PRIMARY LEVEL

4
1
3
2
1

1 PRIMARY SCHOOL AND FIRST PHASE OF SCHOOL 5 VOCATIONAL GYMNASIUM/UPPER LEVEL CENTRE
(OSZ)
The first phase of school generally lasts two years. Students
move up to secondary school after 6th grade. If they have the At vocational Gymnasiums, young people choose from
required grades and talent, it is also possible for students to six specialisations and vocational fields. Courses from the
move to a foundational Gymnasium after 4th grade. chosen vocational field supplement the traditional subjects.

2 COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL 6 SCHOOLS WITH A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL FOCUS

At comprehensive schools, students stay together from These schools exclusively teach children and young people
1st to 10th grade. All school qualifications are offered. with disabilities, illnesses or impairments and prepare them
The Abitur can be obtained after 13 years of school. for integration into society (as far as possible). It is also
possible to transfer from this type of school to a general
school.
3 INTEGRATED SECONDARY SCHOOL
Qualifications
Students can move to an integrated secondary school
(ISS) after 6th grade. All school qualifications are offered • Abitur = higher education entrance qualification
here. The Abitur can be obtained after 13 years of school. • BBR = certificate of vocational education
Career orientation and internships provide an initial insight • eBBR = advanced vocational qualification
into the world of work. • MSA = general certificate of education
For the MSA and eBBR, there is a final qualification process
4 GYMNASIUM with examination. One of the requirements for moving up to
the upper secondary school is the MSA.
At Gymnasiums, students can achieve the Abitur after
12 years of school. The first year at the Gymnasium is a *S
 chool qualifications for students with the “learning” special
probation year. educational focus at the end of 10th grade:

• BOA = vocational qualification

• Qualification equivalent to certificate of vocational
education

30
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32
 OFFERS AT ALL TYPES OF SCHOOL

OFFERS AT ALL
TYPES OF SCHOOL
All-day school
All-day school at integrated secondary schools,
comprehensive schools and many Gymnasiums,
like at primary school, comprises a mix of lessons
and supplementary offers. It combines learning at
school with the students’ own worlds.

The all-day school concept varies between lessons as a class, different forms of
independent learning, content related to the students’ subjects and support and
recreational options — depending on the learning and performance ability of the
children and young people. The school committee at each school agrees on the
type of all-day school based on the particular needs of the students at that school.

All-day school includes educational offerings until 4pm. Offers that supplement lessons
are either voluntary or compulsory, depending on the type of all-day school. When
choosing your secondary school, check which option is best for your family situation
and your child.

To ensure that they provide a diverse all-day school offering, schools have in place a
range of different cooperations, for example with voluntary youth welfare organisations
and in areas such as sports, music, art, theatre, business and further education.

← All-day school

33
 GYMNASIUMS WITH ALL-DAY SCHOOL

Open Bound
Albrecht-Dürer-Gymnasium (08Y01 – Neukölln) Albert-Schweitzer-Gymnasium (08Y02 – Neukölln)
Barnim-Gymnasium (11Y09 – Lichtenberg) Berlin Cosmopolitan School
Bilinguale Schule Phorms Berlin Süd (independent school) (01P22 – Mitte)
(independent school) (06P18 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) BEST-Sabel-Oberschule
Canisius-Kolleg (independent school) (09P09 – Treptow-Köpenick)
(independent school) (01P06 – Mitte) Carl-Friedrich-von-Siemens-Gymnasium (05Y04 – Spandau)
Dathe-Gymnasium (02Y05 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) Diesterweg-Gymnasium (01Y09 – Mitte)
Friedrich-Engels-Gymnasium (12Y01 – Reinickendorf) Freie Schule Anne-Sophie Berlin
Georg-Büchner-Gymnasium (independent school) (06P20 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)
(07Y09 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) Gottfried-Keller-Gymnasium
Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasium (04Y04 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
(02Y04 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) Hermann-Hesse-Gymnasium
Goethe-Gymnasium (04Y11 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) (02Y08 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Gymnasium Steglitz (06Y13 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) John-Lennon-Gymnasium (01Y02 – Mitte)
Gymnasium Tiergarten (01Y12 – Mitte) Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg (12Y06 – Reinickendorf)
Hans-Carossa-Gymnasium (05Y03 – Spandau)
Humboldt-Gymnasium (12Y03 – Reinickendorf) Partially bound
Immanuel-Kant-Gymnasium (11Y11 – Lichtenberg) Archenhold-Gymnasium (09Y03 – Treptow-Köpenick)
Johann-Gottfried-Herder-Gymnasium (11Y02 – Lichtenberg) Gebrüder-Montgolfier-Gymnasium
Katholische Theresienschule (09Y10 – Treptow-Köpenick)
(independent school) (03P10 – Pankow) Jüdisches Gymnasium Moses Mendelssohn
Leibniz-Gymnasium (02Y06 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) (independent school) (01P03 – Mitte)
Lessing-Gymnasium (01Y08 – Mitte) Käthe-Kollwitz-Gymnasium (03Y03 – Pankow)
Manfred-von-Ardenne-Gymnasium (11Y10 – Lichtenberg) Max-Planck-Gymnasium (01Y11 – Mitte)
Melanchthon-Gymnasium (10Y11 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)
Moser-Schule – Schweizer Gymnasium (independent
school) (04P24 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Otto-Nagel-Gymnasium (10Y02 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)
Private Goethe-Schule
(independent school) (12P07 – Reinickendorf)
Privates Europa-Gymnasium Berlin (independent school)
(07P11 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg)
Robert-Havemann-Gymnasium (03Y16 – Pankow)
Rückert-Gymnasium (07Y02 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg)
Thomas-Mann-Gymnasium (12Y08 – Reinickendorf)

Types of all-day school:

Open Voluntary additional offers on four days of the week until 4pm

Rhythmic routine: Compulsory lessons and additional offerings spread over the day,
Bound
compulsory attendance four days a week from 8am to 4pm

Bound and open all-day school spread over the week, for example two days bound and two
Partially bound
days open; in addition, compulsory and voluntary offerings over four days until 4pm

34
 OFFERS AT ALL TYPES OF SCHOOL

Foreign languages
People speak many different languages in Berlin. Languages open
the door to other cultures and will enable your child to confidently
navigate the world later on in life. At secondary school, your child
will continue to consolidate the first foreign language that they started
learning in primary school. They can also start learning a second
foreign language, potentially in 5th grade at some schools, but
otherwise in 7th, 9th or 11th grade.

Second foreign language Bilingual offerings

As two foreign languages are required to study for the Abitur, At many schools, foreign language lessons are normally
a second foreign language is compulsory at the Gymnasium. taught bilingually. Depending on demand, schools will
This also applies to students at integrated secondary schools arrange classes with extra lessons in the relevant foreign
who wish to sit the Abitur after 13 years. These students will language and teach history, geography, politics or biology.
start learning their second foreign language in the 11th grade
at the latest. Many independent schools also offer bilingual lessons in
German and English at native speaker level.
If your child learned English at primary school, they will
choose their second foreign language from the elective
options available at their secondary school. If their first
foreign language is French, the second must be English.

Berlin schools currently offer 15 languages that students

SCHOOLS WITH BILINGUAL
can learn as their second or third language:
GERMAN/FRENCH OFFERING
• English, • Norwegian,
• French, • Polish, Beethoven-Gymnasium (06Y06 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)
• Ancient Greek, • Portuguese, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Gymnasium
• Modern Greek, • Russian, (03Y08 – Pankow): with AbiBac
• Hebrew, • Spanish, Diesterweg-Gymnasium (01Y09 - Mitte)
• Italian, • Turkish and Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium
• Japanese, • Chinese. (06Y02 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)
• Latin, Französisches Gymnasium (01Y07 – Mitte): with AbiBac
Hans-und-Hilde-Coppi-Gymnasium
(11Y05 – Lichtenberg)
Leibniz-Gymnasium
(02Y06 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
SCHOOLS WITH BILINGUAL GERMAN/SPANISH
Lily-Braun-Gymnasium (05Y05 – Spandau)
OFFERING
Moser-Schule-Schweizer Gymnasium
(independent school) (04P24 – Charlottenburg-
Carlo-Schmid-Oberschule Wilmersdorf): with AbiBac
(05K02 – Spandau) Romain-Rolland-Gymnasium
(12Y07 – Reinickendorf): with AbiBac
Friedrich-Engels-Gymnasium Rückert-Gymnasium (07Y02 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg):
(12Y01 – Reinickendorf) with AbiBac
Sophie-Scholl-Schule (07K01 – Tempelhof-
Willi-Graf-Gymnasium Schöneberg): with AbiBac
(06Y12 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) (only for branches of the Staatliche Europa-Schule)

35
 SCHOOLS WITH BILINGUAL GERMAN/ENGLISH OFFERING

Anne-Frank-Gymnasium (09Y04 – Treptow-Köpenick) Hans-Carossa-Gymnasium (05Y03 – Spandau)

Qualification: Abitur Qualification: Abitur

Beethoven-Gymnasium (06Y06 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) Hans-und-Hilde-Coppi-Gymnasium

Qualification: Abitur (11Y05 – Lichtenberg) Qualification: Abitur

Berlin British School (independent school) Heinrich-Böll-Oberschule (05K04 – Spandau)

(04P39 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) Qualification: Abitur
Qualification: International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
Hermann-Ehlers-Gymnasium (06Y08 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)
Berlin Cosmopolitan School (independent school) Qualification: Abitur
(01P22 – Mitte) Qualifications: Abitur and the
American High School Diploma (IB) Internationale Schule Berlin (independent school)
(06P11 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) Qualification: Abitur
Berlin International School (independent school)
(04P42 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) Jean-Krämer-Schule (12K07 – Reinickendorf)
Qualification: International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) Qualification: Abitur

Berlin Metropolitan School (independent school) (01P16 – Mitte) Johann-Gottfried-Herder-Gymnasium

Qualification: International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) (11Y02 – Lichtenberg) Qualification: Abitur

Bertolt-Brecht-Oberschule (05K03 – Spandau) John-F.-Kennedy-Schule (06K01 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)

Qualification: Abitur Qualifications: Abitur and the American
High School Diploma
Carl-von-Ossietzky-Schule
(02K02 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) Qualification: Abitur Kurt-Tucholsky-Oberschule (03K02 – Pankow)
Qualification: Abitur
Dreilinden-Gymnasium (06Y04 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)
Qualification: Abitur Lilienthal-Gymnasium (06Y10 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)
Qualification: Abitur
Ellen-Key-Schule (02K01 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Qualification: Abitur Max-Beckmann-Oberschule (12K03 – Reinickendorf)
Qualification: Abitur
Europäisches Gymnasium Bertha-von-Suttner
(12Y02 – Reinickendorf) Qualification: Abitur Merian-Schule (09K01 – Treptow-Köpenick)
Qualification: Abitur
Freie Schule Anne-Sophie Berlin
(independent school) Mildred-Harnack-Oberschule (11K02 – Lichtenberg)
(06P20 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) Qualification: Abitur Qualification: Abitur

Fritz-Reuter-Oberschule (11K05 – Lichtenberg) Nelson-Mandela-Schule

Qualification: Abitur (04K04 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Qualifications: Abitur and the International Baccalaureate
Gabriele-von-Bülow-Gymnasium (12Y04 – Reinickendorf) Diploma (IB); from 7th grade, admission only of children
Qualification: Abitur from particularly mobile families

Georg-Büchner-Gymnasium Paulsen-Gymnasium (06Y07 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)

(07Y09 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) Qualification: Abitur Qualification: Abitur

Gustav-Heinemann-Oberschule Peter-Ustinov-Schule (04K08 – Charlottenburg-

(07K03 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) Qualification: Abitur Wilmersdorf) Qualification: Abitur

Gymnasium Tiergarten (01Y12 – Mitte) Platanus Schule Berlin

Qualification: Abitur (independent school) (03P28 – Pankow)
Qualification: Abitur

36
 OFFERS AT ALL TYPES OF SCHOOL

SCHOOLS WITH BILINGUAL GERMAN/ENGLISH OFFERING

Primo-Levi-Gymnasium (03Y14 – Pankow) Walter-Gropius-Schule (08K01 – Neukölln)

Qualification: Abitur Qualification: Abitur

Rudolf-Virchow-Oberschule (10K01 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf) Walther-Rathenau-Gymnasium

Qualification: Abitur (04Y09 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Qualification: Abitur
SIS Swiss International School Berlin
(independent school) (05P19 – Spandau) Wangari-Maathai-Internationale-Schule
Qualifications: Nichtschülerabitur (Abitur as an external (04K10 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
candidate) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) Qualifications: Abitur and the International Baccalaureate
Diploma (IB)
Sophie-Charlotte-Gymnasium
(04Y03 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) Wilma-Rudolph-Oberschule (06K02 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)
Qualification: Abitur Qualification: Abitur

37
 OTHER MODERN LANGUAGES

Russian
Internationale Lomonossow-Schule (independent school) (10P10 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf, 01P25 – Mitte)
Private Goethe-Schule (independent school) (12P07 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)

Scandinavian languages
Deutsch Skandinavische Gemeinschaftsschule (independent school) (07P13 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) bilingual lessons
in German/Danish, German/Swedish or German/Norwegian
Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Gymnasium (03Y13 – Pankow) German/Norwegian

Hebrew
Jüdisches Gymnasium Moses Mendelssohn (independent school) (01P03 – Mitte)
Jüdische Traditionsschule (independent school) (04P23 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)

First language lessons (ESU)

Students at these schools in secondary level I can currently
attend two hours of first language lessons per week in the
following languages (in addition to their other lessons):
Arabic, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Students with these first languages can develop their skills in

their family language in these lessons. Their multilingualism
is nurtured and they are given the support needed to learn
successfully. The lessons offered follow on from a similar
offering at primary school.

Arabic
Barnim-Gymnasium Moses Mendelssohn
(11Y09 – Lichtenberg)

Bergmannkiez-Gemeinschaftsschule
(02K04 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)

Fritz-Karsen-Schule (08K06 – Neukölln)

Gemeinschaftsschule auf dem Campus Rütli

(08K08 – Neukölln)

Turkish
Fritz-Karsen-Schule (08K06 – Neukölln)

Vietnamese
Barnim-Gymnasium (11Y09 – Lichtenberg)

38
 OFFERS AT ALL TYPES OF SCHOOL

Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin

The Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin (SESB) is a bilingual and The second foreign language – English or French – is started
bicultural school. Branches of the Staatliche Europa-Schule in 5th grade.
Berlin have been established at 18 primary schools and 15
secondary schools. The SESB starts in 1st grade and continues through to the
Abitur/all Berlin school qualifications. Students are taught
Lessons are taught in two languages: German and one of nine in both the first and partner language equally.
other languages:
In an SESB class, half of the children therefore have German
• English, • Portuguese, and the other half have one of the nine other languages as
• French, • Russian, their first language.
• Modern Greek, • Spanish,
• Italian, • Turkish. The second foreign language—English or French—is started
• Polish, in 5th grade. All subjects are taught by teachers in their
respective native language.

STAATLICHE EUROPA-SCHULE BERLIN (SESB)

English Polish
Dreilinden-Gymnasium (06Y04 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) Robert-Jungk-Schule
Peter-Ustinov-Schule (04K08 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) (04K03 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Schiller-Gymnasium (04Y01 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Portuguese
French Kurt-Schwitters-Schule (03K01 – Pankow)
Georg-von-Giesche-Schule
(07K06 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) Russian
Sophie-Scholl-Schule (07K01 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg) Mildred-Harnack-Schule (11K02 – Lichtenberg)

Greek Spanish
Gymnasium Steglitz (06Y13 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) Albrecht-von-Graefe-Schule
Max-von-Laue-Schule (06K08 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf) (02K09 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Friedensburg-Schule (04K02 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Italian
Albert-Einstein-Gymnasium (08Y03 – Neukölln) Turkish
Alfred-Nobel-Schule (08K11 – Neukölln) Carl-von-Ossietzky-Schule
(02K02 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)

← S
 ESB and the admission procedure ← SESB framework

39
Finding and fostering talent
Schools with special profiles
The interests and talents that your child has developed Or do they have a talent for languages or numbers?
at primary school should be fostered and encouraged Then a school with a special focus (profile) or offering
at secondary school. Do they enjoy playing a musical may be the right choice for them.
instrument? Do they shine in sports?

Fostering talent
In order to support students with a particular talent or gift, Berlin schools support students with special potential
first we need to find these students. Even more so than individually, for example:
excellent grades at school, when it comes to ensuring that
great potential translates to great achievements, personal • By providing support during lessons or additional
skills and an environment that is conducive to learning are offerings,
crucial. • By developing a special school profile for supporting
gifted children,
The School Psychological and Inclusive Education Advice • By allowing the student to skip a grade and therefore
and Support Centre (Schulpsychologisches und Inklusions- complete their education in a shorter space of time —
pädagogisches Beratungs- und Unterstützungszentrum, following consultation between the parents and the
SIBUZ) in each district can provide you with professional, school,
comprehensive advice on supporting talented young people. • By providing enrichment offers to enable students to
go into more depth on a subject outside of normal
The Department for Talent Promotion (a clearing and advice lessons or to study a new subject, for example on
centre) is also available as a point of contact for parents special additional courses instead of regular lessons
and legal guardians, students and teaching staff at day-care or as part of regional gifted groups in the afternoon.
centres and schools.

← Fostering talent

40
 OFFERS AT ALL TYPES OF SCHOOL

Fast learner classes

In fast learner classes, students in grades 5 to 10 learn at a
faster pace tailored to their ability.

This gains the students extra time in the regular timetable,

enabling them to take part in additional acceleration and
enrichment courses.

These courses, which are available at seven Berlin

Gymnasiums, support intellectually gifted children and help
them realise their individual potential.

Fostering talent in maths and science

Students with a particular talent for maths, IT or natural These achievements will be taken into account at all
sciences can focus more intensely on these subjects at a German universities when applying to study a related
number of Berlin Gymnasiums, helping them to prepare for degree course.
further studies in these areas. → Page 42
Other schools outside of this network also offer enhanced
Five Gymnasiums make up a network of schools with a specialist teaching for children and young people with a
mathematics and science profile. These schools work closely talent for maths and science in profile classes.
with the Department of Mathematics at Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin. This is particularly the case at six Gymnasiums with a
science profile which have set up their own network. To be
By obtaining the Abitur and successfully completing the admitted to one of these schools, children usually need to
relevant special courses, students will leave school with two pass an admission exam in maths and science.
achievements in basic mathematics.

Music Gymnasiums
These Gymnasiums focus in particular on an intensive
education in the arts:

• Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasium • Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

(02Y04 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg): Musically gifted (01Y04 – Mitte): All artistic subjects are taught by
children and young people are educated from 5th lecturers from the Hanns Eisler School of Music and the
grade here, specialising in choral singing, orchestral University of the Arts. The focus is on training soloists.
music and ensembles. Admission is possible at any stage from 5th grade up to
the start of 11th grade. For admission, students are required
• Melanchthon-Gymnasium to pass a qualifying exam on their main instrument and a
(10Y11 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf): There is a specialist general music exam.
music class from 5th grade at this school.
Many other Berlin schools also support children who are
interested in music with additional offerings such as school
choirs and orchestras.

41
 Elite sports schools
(school and competitive sports centres)
Three Berlin schools admit children and young people who are training in a competitive
sport and have several years of experience in training and competition. At these schools,
students obtain their school qualifications while progressing and growing under the guidance
of professionals and preparing for international sports competitions.

To apply to one of these schools, students need a recommendation for admission from the
Berlin State Sports Federation (Landessportbund Berlin) and an expert opinion from the Berlin
Centre for Sports Medicine (Zentrum für Sportmedizin Berlin).

Students will go through a sports-related screening process prior to admission.

SCHOOLS WITH SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR GIFTED STUDENTS

Science profile
Eckener-Gymnasium (07Y07 – Tempelhof-Schöneberg)
Emmy-Noether-Gymnasium (09Y11 – Treptow-Köpenick)
Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium (05Y01 – Spandau)
Hans-Carossa-Gymnasium (05Y03 – Spandau)
Hildegard-Wegscheider-Gymnasium (04Y08 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Melanchthon-Gymnasium (10Y11 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)

Mathematics and science profile

Andreas-Gymnasium (02Y01 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Heinrich-Hertz-Gymnasium (02Y03 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Herder-Gymnasium (04Y05 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Immanuel-Kant-Gymnasium (11Y11 – Lichtenberg)
Käthe-Kollwitz-Gymnasium (03Y03 – Pankow)
Melanchthon-Gymnasium (10Y11 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)

Promotion of musical talent

Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gymnasium (02Y04 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Hans-und-Hilde-Coppi-Gymnasium (11Y05 – Lichtenberg)
Melanchthon-Gymnasium (10Y11 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)
Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (01Y04 – Mitte)

Promotion of sports talent

Flatow-Oberschule (09A07 – Treptow-Köpenick)
Schul- und Leistungssportzentrum Berlin (Sportforum) (11A07 – Lichtenberg)
Sportschule im Olympiapark – Poelchau-Schule
(04A08 – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Staatliche Ballett- und Artistikschule Berlin (03B08 – Pankow)

Fast learner schools

Albrecht-Dürer-Gymnasium (08Y01 – Neukölln)
Dathe-Gymnasium (02Y05 – Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg)
Humboldt-Gymnasium (12Y03 – Reinickendorf)
Lessing-Gymnasium (01Y08 – Mitte)
Otto-Nagel-Gymnasium (10Y02 – Marzahn-Hellersdorf)
Rosa-Luxemburg-Gymnasium (03Y10 – Pankow)
Werner-von-Siemens-Gymnasium (06Y05 – Steglitz-Zehlendorf)

42
ADVERT

Senate Department
for Education, Youth
and Family

VIOLENCE AT HOME?
SCARED? WORRIED?
Call us — child protection hotline:
+49 (0)30 61 00 66
Or contact us online for advice:
www.jugendnotmail.berlin

Confidential and available at any time

www.berliner-notdienst-kinderschutz.de
Inclusion and
special educational support
At Berlin’s schools, all children and young people receive the individual
support that they need. If students have disabilities or impairments, the
special educational support will help to compensate for any disadvantages
and ensure that they receive a school education that is tailored to their
individual abilities.

Joint learning — with and without disabilities

At general schools, seven in ten students with special If your child has an identified special educational need,
educational needs are already learning alongside children you can decide whether to send them to a school with a
and young people without disabilities. All other students special educational focus or to a general school.
with special educational needs attend a school with a
special educational focus. The only situation in which an alternative would have to be
recommended by an admission committee is if your school
The joint education of all students—with and without of choice does not have the resources and staff required to
disabilities—is a priority. This is laid down in the Berlin provide qualified special educational support.
School Act (Schulgesetz).
Learning and living together helps all children to improve
their social skills. The benefits of learning in this way include:

ADVICE • Mutual respect and support,

If you believe that your child has a special • A relaxed approach to differences in learning and
educational need and would like performance,
advice, the School Psychological and Inclusive
Education Advice and Support Centres • An improvement in the academic results of children
(SIBUZ) can help you. Employees will be and young people with special educational needs,
able to tell you about the different forms of
special educational support available and • A special focus on individual and independent learning.
recommend doctors, experts, schools etc.
where necessary. Special needs staff and other specialists support teachers
in the joint lessons.
SIBUZ consultation hours and school
authorities in your district: Thursdays 3–6pm Ideally, there will be two to four students with special
or by prior arrangement by phone. Further educational needs in a class.
information and all SIBUZ addresses and
telephone numbers can be found on page 48
onwards.

← Special educational support

44
Inclusion — participation is open to everyone
Inclusion considers diversity to be an asset. The concept Teaching staff are fully qualified, which ensures the successful
takes into account the individuality of each person, and implementation of the adapted teaching culture and tailored
therefore also each child. learning processes. The issue of inclusion is also becoming
increasingly important in teacher training and further
The aim is to enable everyone to participate in society — development.
irrespective of social status, cultural background, religious
and philosophical beliefs, gender, skin colour, sexual The School Psychological and Inclusive Education Advice
orientation and physical or mental impairment or disability. and Support Centres support schools on their journey to
become inclusive schools with offers for teachers, parents
At school, that means: More and more children and young and legal guardians and students.
people with special educational needs are learning
alongside their non-disabled peers as a matter of course.

Compared to other federal states, Berlin is leading the

way when it comes to teaching students with and without
disabilities side by side.

← Inclusion

45
Inclusive specialist schools
Inclusive specialist schools are general schools that attach particular
importance to embracing the philosophy of inclusion. They specialise in
providing special educational support in joint lessons in the following focus
areas: “Mental development”, “physical and motor skills development”,
“hearing and communication”, “sight” and “autism”.

← Specialist schools

REGISTERING FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL

If your child's special educational need will continue to apply in 7th grade at
least, this will be taken into account when you register for secondary school.

Children with special educational needs are allocated to their preferred

schools as a priority — before starting the admission procedure for the
remaining applicants. Each class will have a maximum of four students with
special educational needs.
 OFFERS AT ALL TYPES OF SCHOOL

Schools with a special

educational focus
The special educational support gives students with a 13 ABITUR

SECONDARY
disability the skills they need to integrate into society as

SCHOOL
UPPER
much as possible outside of school.
12
Schools with a special educational focus exclusively teach
children and young people with a disability, illness or
11 MSA
impairment.
10 eBBR/*

SECONDARY LEVEL I
Most of the staff at these schools are therefore specially BBR
qualified to work in this area. The school buildings are also 9
geared towards the students in terms of both the space
and equipment. Some schools even have their own medical 8
personnel.
7
Armed with decades of experience, these schools know the
barriers that people with disabilities face and how they can 6
overcome them.
PRIMARY LEVEL 5
QUALIFICATIONS 4
• Abitur = higher education entrance qualification 3
• MSA = general certificate of education
• eBBR = advanced vocational qualification 2
• BBR = certificate of vocational education
It is also possible to transfer from a school with a special
1
educational focus to a general school.

Students with the “mental development” special educational

focus are regularly assessed in writing on their learning
development and academic performance.

* SCHOOL QUALIFICATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH THE “LEARNING”

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL FOCUS

At the end of 10th grade, young people with the “learning” special
educational focus can obtain the vocational qualification (BOA) and the
qualification equivalent to the certificate of vocational education.

47
 CONTACT AND
INVOLVEMENT
For any questions and issues that may arise during
your child’s time at school, in addition to the
teachers and management team at the school,
there are other experts who can help.

48
 CONTACT AND INVOLVEMENT

Most questions and issues can be resolved in school. Your first point of contact is always your child’s class
teacher. If they are not able to help, you can also speak to the school management team. In many cases,
they have the authority to make any necessary decisions themselves. If not, they will give you the details
of the appropriate contact at the responsible authority.

The issue at hand Initial point of contact Other contacts

Organisation of the school day Subject teachers

Schedule School management

Educational concept Class teacher Parents’ representatives

Lesson content Parents’ council

Performance assessment Chair of parents’ council

Committees

Issues affecting multiple classes Chair of parents’ council

School curriculum Specialist committees

School management
Issues that the teacher or childcare Year group committees
worker is unable to resolve District school authority
Sponsorship

School buildings, facilities

School set-up, organisation

District school board District school authority
School closures

Changing school

Class sizes
District school board
Issues relating to organisation and
pedagogy which cannot be resolved District school authority
in school

Conflicts, (mental health) issues,

Teachers/school management
the child’s personal development
Childcare workers (eFöB)
Distance from the school School social worker School Psychological Support
Centre (SIBUZ)
Transitions to other schools
Youth Welfare Office
or classes

Fundamental issues that go beyond

the individual school Senate Department for Education,
District school authority
Complaints that cannot be resolved Youth and Family
in school

49
Educational institutions
The Berlin education system comprises many individuals and institutions
that all work together. The Senate Department for Education, Youth and
Family and the districts with their respective authorities divide up the
various tasks among themselves.

School authority
Each district in Berlin has a regional school authority The central school authority for independent schools is based
(Schulaufsicht), which is a branch of the Senate Department in the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family.
for Education, Youth and Family. The education officials at
these authorities are points of contact for schools, parents Issues may include:
and students and are available to assist with all school-
related matters. They provide information and advice and • Implementation of educational concepts at schools,
moderate issues between the parties involved. • Adequate staffing at schools,
• Conflicts in school,
• Changing school within the district and available school
places,
← School authorities • Special educational support for school children,
• School offerings and facilities, for example for
exceptionally gifted children or children with impairments.

SCHOOL AUTHORITIES

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Pankow
Waldschulallee 29 – 31, 14055 Berlin Tino-Schwierzina-Straße 32, 13089 Berlin (3rd floor)
Tel.: +49 (0)30 9029-25102 Tel.: +49 (0)30 90249-1005/1006

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Reinickendorf
Frankfurter Allee 35/37, 10247 Berlin Innungsstraße 40, 13509 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 90298-3620 Tel.: +49 (0)30 90249-1938

Lichtenberg Spandau
Alt-Friedrichsfelde 60, 13015 Berlin Streitstraße 6, 13587 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 9021-4706 Tel.: +49 (0)30 90279-2530

Marzahn-Hellersdorf Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Alice-Salomon-Platz 3, 12627 Berlin Hartmannsweilerweg 65, 14163 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 90293-2951 Tel.: +49 (0)30 90299-6131

Mitte Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Karl-Marx-Allee 31, 10178 Berlin Alarichstraße 12 – 17, 12105 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 9018-26055 Tel.: +49 (0)30 90277-6494

Neukölln Treptow-Köpenick
Buckower Damm 114, 12349 Berlin Luisenstraße 16, 12557 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 90249-1701/- 1702 Tel.: +49 (0)30 90249-2211/-12/-15

50
 CONTACT AND INVOLVEMENT

SIBUZ
There is a School Psychological and Inclusive Education The SIBUZ also advise schools on:
Advice and Support Centre (Schulpsychologisches
und Inklusionspädagogisches Beratungs- und • The development and implementation of an inclusive
Unterstützungszentrum, SIBUZ) in every district of Berlin. school curriculum for all-day and accessible learning,
These centres are able to assist you with all school-related • The development of lessons and special support and
matters. Their advice is free, confidential and neutral. prevention concepts and
• The creation of workable concepts for violence and
SIBUZ experts can advise you on matters relating to your addiction prevention, health promotion and social
child’s learning and behaviour: learning.

• School career, In the event of violent incidents, crises or emergencies,

• Individual and special educational support, bullying or discrimination, the school psychology experts will
• Exceptional talent, give Berlin schools the necessary support. Special emergency
• Managing difficulties relating to emotions and behaviour, plans help schools to respond appropriately in the event of
as well as reading, writing and maths. major difficulties.

← SIBUZ

SIBUZ

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Pankow
Waldschulallee 31, 14055 Berlin Tino-Schwierzina-Straße 32-33, 13089 Berlin (1st floor)
Tel.: +49 (0)30 9029-25150 (AB), email: 04sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de Tel.: +49 (0)30 90249-1100, email: 03sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Reinickendorf
Fraenkelufer 18, 10999 Berlin Nimrodstraße 4 – 14, 13469 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 22508-311, email: 02sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de Tel.: +49 (0)30 90294-4837, email: 12sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de

Lichtenberg Spandau
Franz-Jacob-Straße 2 b, 10369 Berlin Streitstraße 6, 13587 Berlin (2nd and 3rd floor)
Tel.: +49 (0)30 90249-2055, email: 11sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de Tel.: +49 (0)30 90279-5850, email: 05sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de

Marzahn-Hellersdorf Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Eisenacher Straße 121, 12685 Berlin Dessauerstraße 49 – 55, 12249 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 22501-3210, email: 10sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de Tel.: +49 (0)30 90299-2572, email: 06sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de

Mitte Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Badstraße 10, 13357 Berlin Ebersstraße 9 a, 10827 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 403949-2261, email: 01sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de Tel.: +49 (0)30 90277-4374, email: 07sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de

Neukölln Treptow-Köpenick
Buckower Damm 114, 12349 Berlin Luisenstraße 16, 12557 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 90249-1801, email: 08sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de Tel.: +49 (0)30 90249-2300, email: 09sibuz@senbjf.berlin.de

51
School board
The department responsible for schools in the respective Other responsibilities of the school board:
district is the school organisational body for state
general education schools. The school board (Schulamt) • Allocation of students to individual schools — for school
makes decisions on important matters relating to school enrolment and for transition to secondary school,
organisation, for example a change of school or the creation • Assignment of administrative personnel to schools,
of classes. • Appointment of school caretakers as contact persons and
intermediaries for issues relating to the school buildings,
• Building maintenance and facilities at the schools,
• Planning of new buildings or extension of existing school
← School board addresses buildings in the case of growing school populations.

School inspectorate
Berlin schools are inspected on a regular basis by the school The detailed report informs each school of its strengths and
inspectorate. This inspection supplements the self-assessment its areas for improvement.
that every school is required to complete and provides data-
supported information on the state of school development, At a district and state level, the inspection results are used
on the quality of the teaching and support and on the school to monitor school development. Summary reports on the
organisation and school life. individual school inspections can be found in the online
school directory.

Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family

The senate department is responsible for all substantive As the employing administrative authority for all teachers and
educational issues. It makes decisions on issues such as the childcare workers who are not employed by a private entity,
implementation of educational policies and the content of the senate department is responsible for:
legal regulations, for example the core curricula.
• Hiring teachers and, where applicable, childcare workers,
• Ensuring schools have adequate personnel,
• Long-term personnel planning based on the number of
students in the districts.

Complaint management Quality officer

In the event of complaints that you have not been able to Do you simply need advice, have questions about the running
resolve with the school or school authority, the complaint of the school or want more information about opportunities
management team will help you and work with all parties to get involved in school life? Please get in touch with the
involved to find a solution. Your concerns will always be senator’s independent quality officer, who will be happy
handled in the strictest confidence. to help.

Contact Ruby Mattig-Krone

beschwerdemanagement@senbjf.berlin.de Tel.: +49 (0)30 90227-5330

52
 CONTACT AND INVOLVEMENT

Getting involved in the school

Parents are teachers’ most important contacts when it comes
to supporting and shaping school life.

Parents can actively contribute by: Parents’ meeting

• Working with learning groups during The class parent representatives elected at the first parents’ meeting
individual parts of lessons, (Elternversammlung)—and their deputies where applicable—are your
• Supporting extracurricular activities, points of contact. They represent your interests in interactions with the
• Supporting school projects, excursions school and exercise your rights of participation on school committees.
and events,
• Joining or supporting the friends’ association.
Parents’ council
Together, the class parent representatives form the school’s parents’
council (Gesamtelternvertretung, GEV). The parents’ council represents
← Getting involved in the school the interests of all parents and legal guardians as regards school matters
and selects four representatives to attend the school committee — the most
important decision-making body at the school.

GUIDE TO PARENT REPRESENTATION

This guide shows the tasks, duties and

rights involved in parents’ work and
involvement in the school — from parents
evenings to the parents’ council (GEV).

State level State parents’ committee

District level District parents’ committee

Specialist committee

School committee

School level Parents’ council Teachers’ council

Student council
(secondary school)

Class level Parents’ meeting Class committee

53
 Directory of all secondary
schools in Berlin
Addresses, foreign languages, all-day school,
offerings and accessibility
Publishing information

Publisher
Senate Department for Education,
Youth and Family
Bernhard-Weiß-Straße 6
10178 Berlin
Germany

www.berlin.de/sen/bjf/en

Editorial team
Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family, Unit ZS I

Design
Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family, Unit ZS I

Photos
Getty Images (Maskot, Willie B. Thomas, Klaus Vedfelt, Astrakan Images, Westend 61, Carol Yapes)
iStock (Nikada, Drazen Zigic, golero, SolStock, shironosov)
Picture Alliance/dpa (Andreas Arnold, Julian Stratenschulte, Waltraud Grubitzsch)
Shutterstock (fizkes, Gorodenkoff), Depositphotos (Arthur Verkhovetsky), Andi Weiland, SenBJF

October 2023

This brochure is part of the public relations work conducted by the state of Berlin.
It is not intended for sale and is not permitted to be used to promote political parties.
www.berlin.de/sen/bjf/en

Senate Department
for Education, Youth
and Family

Bernhard-Weiß-Straße 6
10178 Berlin
Germany
Tel. +49 (30) 90227–5050
post@senbjf.berlin.de