In North Rhine-Westphalia compulsory education exists for persons aged 6-18 and for trainees in the dual system (even if they are over 18).

There is a distinction between a full-time compulsory education (including primary education and the first stage of secondary education) and compulsory education at upper secondary level (second stage of secondary education):

Under the Education Act for North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), children must begin to attend school in the year in which they reach the age of six prior to 1 October. The new term always starts in summer.

• Primary school (Grundschule) runs from year 1 to 4.

• Then pupils move on to secondary school, year 5 to 10 (or in Grammar School G8 to grade 9) (weiterführende Schule der Sekundarstufe I). Thus, the full-time compulsory education is a total of 10 years (or in Grammar School G8 a total of 9 years).

• Once pupils have completed full-time compulsory education - generally then they are 15 or 16 - they move into upper secondary education (Sekundarstufe II). The type of school entered depends on the qualifications and entitlements obtained at the end of lower secondary education.

• Up to the end of the term during which they turn 18, or until graduation from a full-time secondary education programme, students must either follow the sixth-form style gymnasiale Oberstufe or attend a vocational college or complete vocational training within the dual system (duales System).

The upper secondary educational programmes lead either to the qualifications required for entrance to higher education, entitling students to enter institutions of higher education, and/ or to vocational qualifications, enabling those so qualified to enter employment as a qualified skilled worker, for example in a recognised training occupation (in accordance with Federal regulations) or working in an occupation as an assistant (in accordance with Land regulations).

In principle, pursuant to the School Law of North Rhine-Westphalia, all children and young persons of school age whose normal place of residence is located in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, are obliged to attend a German school. This legal stipulation exists in order to enable all children and young persons to obtain school qualifications which are recognized in Germany. Obtaining school qualifications which are recognized in Germany - and which only a German school may award - is particularly important in order, for example, to be subsequently able to commence a course of vocational training in Germany or attend a German university. Additionally the attendance of a German school is important for the social integration of a child.

This fundamental obligation to attend a german school also applies to the children of non-German nationals.

Following four years of primary school for all, educational paths are divided in the subdivided school system consisting of:

a) a three-tier system 

for pupils who are taught separately depending on the level of giftedness: 

• Hauptschule (Secondary general school), grades 5 – 10
• Realschule (Intermediate secondary school), grades 5 – 10
• Gymnasium (Grammar school/High school),
  - G8: grades 5 – 9 and 10 – 12 or
  - G9: grades 5 – 10 and 11 – 13 

and 

b) the following integrated school types

for pupils of all levels of giftedness under one  umbrella: 

• Sekundarschule (a new type of school,  from 2011 onward, similar to a comprehensive school), grades 5 – 10
• Gesamtschule (Comprehensive school),  grades 5 – 10 and 11 – 13 

The first stage of secondary education comprises  five years at the eight-year Gymnasium (G8) and  six years at the nine-year Gymnasium (G9) and at the other general-education schools. Thus, the full-time compulsory education is a total of 9 or 10 years. 

Here, pupils receive a basic general education. Hauptschulen favour a hands-on approach to learning and work to prepare pupils for vocational  training. During work-experience placements,  pupils are made familiar with the requirements of  the working world and receive some guidance on  career choice and planning. 

Hauptschulen cover classes 5 to 10. At the end of class 9, pupils have the option of acquiring a  first certificate of general education known as „Hauptschulabschluss“ (after class 9). This certificate is usually used to take up a  course of vocational training in the dual system.  Under certain conditions, it also entitles holders  to enter, for example, a full-time vocational  school.

Realschulen provide a wider range of general  education and lay the groundwork for continued  education at schools or vocational training  institutions. Classes focus in equal parts on  theory and practical skills, resulting in a hands-on  approach to learning, interspersed with scientific  aspects. 

Realschulen normally cover classes 5 to 10. At  the end of class 10, the intermediate certificate  can be acquired, the Fachoberschulreife (the  final certificate of the Realschule). It entitles  holders to go on to further courses of education,  for example to specific full-time vocational  schools and to Fachoberschulen, and can also  be used to take up a course of vocational training  in the dual system. Where pupils’ performance  merits it, they can transfer from a Realschule to a  Gymnasium, and also from a Hauptschule to a Realschule. 

Gymnasium offers a more profound and in depth level of general education. Pupils attain proficiencies and aptitudes required for university studies or high-end vocational programmes. A full Gymnasium career consists of the first stage of secondary education (G8: Year 5 – 9; G9: Year 5 – 10) and a subsequent three-year upper secondary stage (gymnasiale Oberstufe) (Year 10 – 12 or 11 – 13).

At the end of Sekundarstufe I (lower secondary education), it is not normally a final certificate that is issued, but an entitlement to go on to the gymnasiale Oberstufe (upper secondary level). The upper secondary level of grammar-school education ends with the Abitur examination. Pupils who pass it obtain the Abitur certificate, the final school-leaving certificate entitling holders to enter any institution of higher education, which also opens the way to vocational training.

A Sekundarschule gives pupils of different learning abilities the opportunity to be taught together for longer. It works to prepare pupils for vocational education as well as the transition to the three-year upper secondary stage. From the outset, classes offer Gymnasium-standards and cover Years 5 – 10. Every Sekundarschule has a binding cooperation agreement in place with at least one institution comprising an upper secondary stage (gymnasiale Oberstufe).

Currently there is no Sekundarschule in Bonn.

Gesamtschulen offer a differentiated tuition structure designed to prepare pupils for vocational training and university studies. Pupils of different levels of learning ability are taught together and, unlike Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium, the Gesamtschule does not allocate pupils to particular educational tracks. With a view to taking into account the diverse abilities and talents, classes in a number of subjects are held at two different levels (basic and extended). Gesamtschule comprises the first stage of secondary education (Year 5 – 10) and a subsequent three-year upper secondary stage (gymnasiale Oberstufe) (Year 11 – 13).

In Bonn, there are also German schools which offer bilingual instruction. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) involves teaching a curricular subject through the medium of a language other than that normally used. The subject can be entirely unrelated to language learning, such as history lessons being taught in English in a school in Germany.

Note: 

In addition, Friedrich-Ebert-Gymnasium and Helmholtz-Gymnasium, two state schools, offer pupils the opportunity to obtain the German Abitur and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), in each case by separate tests. 

Friedrich-Ebert-Gymnasium and Hardtberg Gymnasium, two state schools, offer pupils the opportunity to obtain the German Abitur and the French Baccalauréat, which is equivalent to a qualification obtained in France (AbiBac).