Compulsory School Attendance in Bremen

Who actually has to go to school and for how long? The most important information on compulsory education from the Bremen School Act.

To whom does compulsory schooling apply?

The regulations on compulsory schooling apply to everyone who has their home or, in the case of several homes, their main home or their place of education in the state of Bremen. Compulsory schooling begins on 1 August of the same year for all children who reach the age of six by the beginning of 30 June of a year. Children of compulsory school age may be deferred for one year for significant health reasons. The decision is made by the subject supervisor on the basis of a school doctor's report.

Children who reach the age of six in the period from 30 June to the beginning of 31 December also become liable to attend school on 1 August of the same year upon written application by their legal guardians. Children who reach the age of five by the beginning of 30 June of a year also become compulsory to attend school on 1 August of the same year at the written request of their legal guardians, provided that the primary school determines that the child will not be overtaxed in terms of his or her linguistic, cognitive and social abilities by the lessons and other school life.

Compulsory Schooling Period

Compulsory schooling lasts 12 years, unless otherwise stipulated by law. Trainees who are in a training relationship in a recognised or equivalently regulated training occupation are obliged to attend school for the duration of the training relationship. This does not apply if it is a measure that can be funded as vocational retraining. Compulsory schooling ends before the end of 12 years if a vocational training course of at least one year has been successfully completed. It ends at the latest at the end of the school year in which the 18th year of age is reached.