I'll tell you about my own school first. I go to the German Swiss International School here in Hong Kong. Basically, it's a system you could describe as "2 schools under one roof". There's the international stream, which follows the British school system, and there's the German stream, which follows the German one. 

I'm not sure why that's like that, but that's how it is with all private schools here. We have one headmaster, who is and has always been German. The faculty includes staff from lots of countries, but of course especially local, German, Swiss, British and Australian teachers. Some teachers only teach in one of the streams, while others may teach in both. My school has over 1,100 students, while only about 400 of those are German, so you can imagine the classes are pretty small and mostly they only have one class for each grade level. 

German schools abroad 
There are a lot of German schools in other countries in the world. Some of the ones I know are the ones in San Francisco, Washington D.C., New York, London, 2 in Japan, Singapore, Madrid, Brussels, Cape Town, Ethiopia, Paris etc. etc. etc. They all work by the same system, namely that they all go after one 'state' in Germany. All the different 'states' in Germany (called "Bundeslaender" in German), sort of like in the US, have their own little variety of the school system. Some might have different subjects or different school hours and different holidays. My school followes the system of Westphalia. 

The subjects that are taught at my school are: German, English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, RE, PE, French/Latin, Fine Art, music, history and geography. In the last 3 years of school, you can choose some subjects and drop others though. 

Classes are mainly informal at German schools. There are generally no uniform requirements at any German school, other than possibly at some private boarding schools. 

My school offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities. There are those, which are called "Arbeitsgemeinschaften", for which you don't pay any money and it's just in the afternoon with a teacher. They are like clubs in American schools. And then there are the activities for which you 
pay money, that are usually coached/taught by independent teachers, who are not employed directly by the school. The most popular afternoon activities are: basketball, rugby, tennis, chess, gymnastics, soccer, photography and debate. 

General information 
Now some words to German schools in general. The system goes from K-13 and the school degree after 13 years of school is called a "Abitur", or in short "Abi". That word is derived from Latin and means to go away or to leave. The requirements for the Abitur recently changed. Now, students have to take 3 written subjects (German is required) and one oral. 

After primary school, there are 2 years of secondary school, which are designed to evaluate students'  potential. These are in 5th and 6th grades, and are the so-called "Orientierungsstufe" = orientation level. 

From the 7th grade, sudents are then placed in one of three types of school: 
1. Students with high academic potential can go to a "Gymnasium"; 2. Students of lesser potential are placed in either a "Realschule" or 3. "Hauptschule". In the "Gymnasium" you have 13 years of school, in the "Realschule" you have 10, and in the "Hauptschule" you have 9. 

Only students that have successfully passed the "Abitur" are generally allowed to go on to university or college. 
 

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Contents 

The German Swiss International school 

German schools abroad 

General information 
 

Related topics 

The Norwegian school system 

Education in the United States 

Interview with a teacher


Links to other sites 

The German Swiss International school in Hong Kong, China 

Sportsday: Students checking their results at a sportsday at the German Swiss Int'l school. 

Underwater: Nicki's class huddling together in the pool for a yearbook photo! 

 
The annual "fashion show" of the German School in 
London.