Return dates for Germany's school system: When do kids resume attending classes?
Germany's 16 federal states will commence the new school year at different times in 2025, as each state manages its own school calendar independently. This results in a unique period of approximately 10 days in early August when all schoolchildren in Germany are on holiday before the return to school begins.
Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt will lead the way, starting the new school year on Monday, August 11th. Following closely, Thuringia will also begin on the same day. The states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin & Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein, and others are expected to resume classes shortly after this date, generally within the same mid-August period, though the exact day varies by state.
Bavaria, known for its consistent tardiness, will start the new school year slightly later, between August 14th and 15th, following its August 1 holiday start. Baden-Württemberg, another southern state, will start on Monday, September 15th. Hamburg will begin on Thursday, September 4th, while Berlin & Brandenburg will start on Monday, September 8th. Schleswig-Holstein will also join the fray on the same day.
The summer-holiday period is the longest, lasting six or seven weeks compared to a few days or up to two weeks for the other breaks. This extended holiday allows for a much-needed respite for Germany's schoolchildren, who receive 75 days of holiday per year, divided into six school holiday periods.
It's worth noting that the staggered holiday schedule is a current issue among Germany's states. Fourteen of the states participate in an annual rotation juggle, but Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are currently exempt. This variation in school start dates can lead to more congestion on local roads and regional trains and buses when children are off school en masse.
For precise individual state school start dates for 2025, checking each state's official education website or local school calendars around late July or early August is typically necessary.
References: 1. School Holidays in Germany 2. Germany's School Start Dates for 2025
education-and-self-development: Parents planning for education-and-self-development resources for their children during the summer break may need to consider the varying school start dates across Germany's 16 federal states.
general-news: A general news article titled 'Germany's School Start Dates for 2025' suggests checking each state's official education website or local school calendars around late July or early August for precise school start dates.
