The majority of pupils in Thuringia attend mainstream school after elementary school.

Parents do not need to submit a special application to transfer to a mainstream school. In grades 5 and 6, all pupils are taught together. At the end of each of these two grades, the transfer to a grammar school is possible at the request of the parents.

From year 7 onwards, the school conference (representatives of parents, pupils and teachers) determines how lessons are organized. On the one hand, further joint learning is possible, which is occasionally supplemented by separation into courses for special support (integrative form of organization). On the other hand, mainstream pupils can also be taught in classes that are geared towards obtaining the Hauptschulabschluss or Realschulabschluss (additive form of organization).

Regular school pupils acquire the Hauptschulabschluss upon successfully completing grade 9. This can optionally be combined with a central examination and is then called the Qualifying Hauptschulabschluss. The Realschulabschluss at the end of year 10 is always combined with a central final examination.

Further information can be found on the website of the Thuringian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

• Thuringian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport