The vocational school is part of the so-called dual vocational training system. Together with the dual partner, the company, it leads to a vocational qualification. The central goal of vocational school is to promote the development of comprehensive job-related and cross-occupational action competence.
In addition to subject-specific instruction, the curriculum also includes German, politics and society, religious education and physical education (in part). Elective subjects may also be offered.
For selected occupations, the vocational school also takes over the entire 1st year of training in the form of a full-time basic vocational school year (BGJ). After successful completion, vocational school students
enter the second year of in-company training immediately.
Young people who are required to attend vocational school but do not have a training relationship are generally prepared for vocational training, a school connection or a job in a full-time vocational preparation program. External differentiation for the different needs of the heterogeneous target group is made possible by various forms of vocational preparation year (e.g. model of vocational integration for youths and young adults with a refugee or migration background or the ESF-funded vocational preparation year "Neustart" for students with problems in the socio-emotional area or in learning).
